February Holidays

Posted by Katrien Vander Straeten Jan 8, 2007

The coming month of February is filled with fun festivals:

• 2 February brings us the hilarious Groundhog Day.
• On 11 February many places around the world will celebrate Carnival.
• 14 February or Valentine’s Day is of course the time for a little romance.
• And on 18 February the Chinese New Year inaugurates the Year of the Pig.

For many Christians this is a time of respite from solemn religious holidays. The Christmas Season ended on the eve of 8 January, and “Ordinary Time” is again in effect... until the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, on 21 February.

Carnival is in many ways a last “pig-out” before the fast of Lent. Saint Valentine’s Day, too, has become in its commercial form an “anti-Lent” of sorts: a day of love, partying and gifts of food and riches.

Articles:

• Groundhog Day
• The Origins of Saint Valentine’s Day
• The Origins of Carnival
• The Season of Lent
• Lent Days of Forgiveness
• Chinese New Year
• Year of the Pig

Other February festivals and holy days:

• 15 February is the Mayahana Buddhist Parinirvana Day or Nirvana Day.
• 16 February is the Hindu Night of Shiva, or Maha Shivaratri.