February 2, 2011 will mark the first year anniversary when Raven's Delights began.You may recall the first blog gave helpful information on how to identify healthful fruits and vegetables by their number code. Hopefully that has been a benefit to you.
The birth of this blog has been an interesting adventure which much of the credit, if not all, goes to Sparrow and Swallow, who encouraged me to "get out of the box", and try my hand at blogging. It had an appeal to me and of course the rest is history.
One of my quests with the creation of this blog, was to find out how each month of the year got it's name.
When I searched my past blogs for the month of February, to my surprise, I neglected to accomplish this task for the month of February, 2010. So to honor this goal, on the month I started this blog, February, a year ago, I will meet my objective this anniversary month by telling all how February got it's name.
February Facts
February is the second month of the year according to the Gregorian calendar, which is used in almost all the world today. It is also the shortest month.
According to legend, the first calendar of the ancient Romans had only 10 months. But in about 700 B.C., the ruler Numa Pompilius added January and February. February became the last month of the Roman year.
The month takes its name from the Latin word februare, meaning to purify. The Romans purified themselves in February to prepare for festivals at the start of the new year. Later, the Romans moved the beginning of the year from March to January, making February the second month.
February usually had 28 days until the time of the Roman statesman Julius Caesar. Caesar gave it 29 days in standard years and 30 every four years. According to tradition, the Roman emperor Augustus took one day off February to add to August, the month named after him. Today, February has 28 days in standard years and 29 in leap years.
A Leap year has 366 days, or one more day than an ordinary year. Leap year day occurs once every 4 years. The next leap year will be in 2012.
Why is it called a Leap Year?
Hundreds of years ago the leap year day had no recognition in English law. The day was 'leapt over' and ignored, hence the term leap year.
Leap years were added to the calendar to make the calendar year nearly the same as the solar year, which is the time it takes for the sun to pass the vernal equinox twice. The extra day added every four years brings a solar year of 365 1/4 days into line with the calendar year of 365 days.
February Second is Groundhog Day.
Groundhog Day in the U.S. is a popular tradition, the day (February 2) that the groundhog, or woodchuck, comes out of his hole after winter hibernation to look for his shadow; If he sees his shadow, it foretells six more weeks of bad weather; If he cannot see his shadow because of clouds, Spring is coming. Supposedly he goes back into his hole if more bad weather is coming and stays above ground if spring is near; statistical evidence does not support this tradition.~Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia~
The little old groundhog looks for his shadow
The clouds in the sky determine our fate
If winter will leave us all early or late."- Don Halley
Weather-lore for February
It is said that if the weather is fine and frosty at the close of January and the beginning of February, there is more winter ahead than behind.
When the cat lies in the sun in February
She will creep behind the stove in March
Of all the months of the year, curse a fair February
If it thunders in February, it will frost in April
If February gives much snow, A fine summer it does foreshow.
So far, the beginning of this month looks like the groundhog will be seeing his shadow, so keep those winter hat's, scarves, gloves, boots, and coats on for at least another six weeks.
I want to take this opportunity to also congratulate Sparrow and Swallow on their 1st year anniversary of their blog "Birds of a Feather." Kudos to you both. I know that "Frabjous Photo's" will be just as successful.Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement you have given me.
What will I be blogging about, hopefully, for another year? Time will tell. One thing for sure, where ever the crow flies, Raven will be there.
This is Raven-as the crow flies!
Nathing but "the FACTS mam Just the FACTS'... thanks for them.. by the way who was it that made that line famos??
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the facts on this blog. Now I understand what you meant. Was the show "Dragnet?" I can picture the actor in my mind, but don't remember his name.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry I missed your anniversary. We even missed our B & B anniversary! Always love your musings. Can't wait to see what this year's postings will be about!
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