Why February is the Second Shortest Month and the Curious History Behind It
The month of February, the shortest month of the year, has always intrigued us with its unique place in our calendar. Why is it the second shortest month? Why not January or December? The answer lies in the complex history and reforms of the early Roman calendar.
Origin and Reason for February’s Length
In ancient Rome, the calendar was a bit different from what we use today. According to historian and calendar expert Jack Bithell, February was once the last month of the year. This arrangement left only a few days for February after the other months had already claimed most of the year.
The current structure of the calendar, with January and February as the first two months, wasn't always the case. It was only a few centuries ago that we shifted the start of the year to January.
Roman Naming and Calendar Reforms
The month of February takes its name from the Roman goddess Februata Juno, who was associated with purification and death. During Roman times, this month was the last of the year.
A famous calendar reformer, Sosigenes, advised Julius Caesar to adjust the calendar. He renamed the month Quintilius to July to honor his own name, and no one objected. Later, when Julius Caesar's grand-nephew and adopted son Octavian, later known as Augustus, took power, he renamed the month Sextilius to August to honor himself, again without objection. Both these actions were significant in the calendar's development and led to the current structure.
The True Meaning of a Month
A month is defined as the apparent movement of the Sun by one-twelfth of a full circle, or 30 degrees, as observed from Earth. However, it's actually the Earth revolving around the Sun once every year. The division of the year into twelve months is made with integral numbers for the number of days, which is a predetermined system.
In contrast, some Indian religious calendars use fractions to determine the transit of the Sun, such as 4:00 pm or 7:00 am, reflecting the actual astronomical positions more closely.
The Elliptical Paths of Planets
The planets do not move uniformly in their orbits. According to one of Kepler's laws of motion, the planets have elliptical paths, and their paths sweep equal areas in equal time. This means that when Earth is closer to the Sun (perihelion) on or around January 4th, it moves faster, and when it is farther away (aphelion) on or around July 4th, it moves slower.
This variation in speed causes the seasons to shift slightly. February, being closer to perihelion, has fewer days compared to July and August, which have 31 days. The calendar is structured in such a way that the equinoxes and solstices mostly fall on the 21st of the respective month, though occasionally they may shift by one day.
A Misconception About February’s Length
Somewhere along the way, a popular misconception arose that Emperor Augustus pinched a day or two from February and added them to August. This is a common belief, but it is not historically accurate. The change in the name from Sextilius to August has no direct impact on the number of days in the month.
It is worth noting that the confusion may stem from the fact that August, named after Augustus, has 31 days, one more than February. However, this was due to a naming convention rather than any actual calendar reform related to February’s length.
In conclusion, February's length is a result of historical calendar reforms and the unique structure of our Gregorian calendar. Understanding the history and reasons behind its length can provide insight into the fascinating evolution of our modern calendar system.