February Lore, how did it get its name?

The month of February has a rich history for such a short month and it is all thanks to the Ancient Romans. Originally they only had 10 months in the year but in the 700s BCE Numa Pompilius, the second King of Rome added 2 more months to the end of the year -January and February - which made the calendar conform to the annual rotation of the Earth around the Sun. March 1st was the original first day of the year and January 1st only became the first day in 153 BCE.

The name February has a few roots, depending on the sources you look at. The oldest being Februa, an ancient Goddess of purification and her month long festival of washing and purification held over February called Februarius, with a main festival day on the 15th  called Februalia, which also coincided with Lupercalia. Februalia was the festival time for cleansing your home and person, Lupercalia, otherwise known as Februatio “Festival of Purification” and also as Februatus “purified” was a ritual to cleanse the city and promote fertility in both the people and beasts.

During the Festival nude priests called Luperci roamed the streets whipping spectators with leather which was a form of ritual purification and  also promoted fertility.

As Plutarch writes in his Roman Questions, “this performance constitutes a rite of purification of the city,” and they struck “with a kind of leather thong they call Fabruare, the word meaning to purify”

Februus was a later god of purification worshipped by both the Romans and Etruscians and he is often considered to be another manifestation of Faunus/Pan.

It can be surmised that this time of purification which the Romans introduced to all the countries they conquered and ruled is the foundation for “Spring Cleaning” when we clear out the dust and grime, partly as a result of spending more time indoors because of the cold, and in earlier times from the soot and smoke of the open fires that were the only methods of heating and cooking, and also because the lengthening days and increased natural light showed up the dirt.

These days we have cleaner energy and better lighting so our homes don’t get that level of dirt but we often see this time as a decluttering opportunity and may decide to redecorate or make changes around our homes as we look forward to the more outgoing months to come.