February and January were introduced into the Roman calendar about 700 BCE when the calendar was extended from ten to twelve months. Before that Romans considered winter a monthless period.

February was named after the Latin word “februa” - which means cleansing or purification, and reflects the purification ritual undertaken before Spring.

The Saxons called February the “sprout-kale” - from the sprouting of cabbage or kale. In Finnish, the month is called “helmikuu”, meaning "month of the pearl" - snow melting on tree branches forms droplets which freeze again resembling pearls of ice. Ukrainians call this month “luty” (fierce), the month of ice and hard frost.

February, having only 28 days in common years, is the only month of the year that can pass without a single full moon.

The 29 February, known as a leap day, is added to the calendar during a leap year. This extra day is added every four years in order to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year.

The flower of this month is a violet or a primrose and the birthstone is amethyst. The most known February holiday is St. Valentine’s Day (14th). In the US, February is also Black History Month.

Related reading: How come February has only 28 days?