Today is the last day of possibly the most pleasant month of the year: FEBRUARY. फरवरी का महीना जाते-जाते अपने साथ ले जाता है सुहावना मौसम, सर्दी के आखिरी दिन और मीठी धूप। Well, let's say our goodbyes to this short and sweet ( and my favorite) month by learning a few informational and few fun facts about it.  HISTORY February, the second month of the modern day Gregorian calendar was added (along with January) to the oldest calendar, the Roman calendar, around 713 BC. इससे पहले Roman Calendar में सिर्फ दस महीने ( March से लेकर December तक ) होते थे। This addition was done by the legendary second Roman king Numa Pompilius.  February का नाम एक Latin शब्द februum से प्रेरित है जिसका अर्थ है  purification. DAYS IN FEBRUARY February, as we all know is the second month of the year having 28 or 29 days. Why this confusion? We'll see. When it comes to the number of days, February has experienced a lot of instability. फरवरी में हमेशा से 28 या 29 दिन का concept नहीं था, बल्की एक समय पर फरवरी के महीने में 23 से 24 दिन भी हुआ करते थे। Remember how we used to make fun of our classmates who had their birthdays on 29th of February. It was a pity that their special day would come once in a four-year time span. But it wasn't always like that. जब Julian calendar को बनाने में leap year के concept को शामिल किया गया, उसके बाद से ही फरवरी के महीने में एक आम साल में 28 दिन तय किये गए और एक leap year में 29 दिन। This concept is still followed and once in every four-year time span, we get a 29-days long month of February. FEBRUARY FACTS AND TRIVIA • In Old English, February was called Solmonath (Mud month) or Kale-monath (Kale or cabbage month).  • February remained the last month of the calendar year until 450 BC, when January became the first month and February became the second. • Before Julius Caesar’s calendar reform of 45 BC, February was the only month with an even number of days. All the rest had 29 or 31. • In Catholic tradition, February is the 'Month of the Purification' of the Blessed Virgin Mary. • The largest American sporting event of the year, the Super Bowl, is held in February. • This month is observed as: American Heart Month Bird-Feeding Month Black History Month Chocolate Lovers Month Creative Romance Month FEBRUARY SYMBOLS • Birthstone: Amethyst • Birth Flower: Primrose • Zodiac signs: Aquarius यानी कुम्भ राशी (until February 19) and Pisces यानी मीन राशी (February 20 onwards) WHAT'S FEBRUARY CALLED IN OTHER LANGUAGES French - Février Italian - Febbraio Latin - Februarius Spanish - Febrero Hindi - फरवरी German - Februar FAMOUS PEOPLE BIRTHDAY IN FEBRUARY • Christiano Ronaldo (Football player) → 05 Feb. • Jennifer Aniston (Hollywood actress)→ 11 Feb. • Abraham Lincoln (American President)→ 12 Feb. • George Washington (First president of United States)→ 22 Feb. • Steve Jobs (Co-founder of Apple)→ 24 Feb. THIS HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY 1884 - The Oxford Dictionary debuted. 1936 - The last silent film of the era, Modern Times, was released by Charlie Chaplin. Well, all that was quite overwhelming February knowledge. I would like to end this on a funnier and a lighter note by sharing something I read the other day: “February - the month of love..?!! No wonder it's the shortest one in the calendar.” And I couldn't agree more...?? Don't forget to read 'All About the Month of January' To improve your English language skills, download our apps Namaste English and Hinkhoj.