February is one of my favourite months. This year it has come 31 days after the New Year began.

Well doesn’t it always?

Just making sure that you were actually reading every word that I’ve written and not just glanced at the headlines and bounced off to read something else.

Why is February called February?

Quoting from an article in The Conversation.com, the “ month of February comes from the word februum(purification) and februa, the rites or instruments used for purification. These formed part of preparations for the coming of Spring in the northern hemisphere.

The februa included spelt and salt for cleaning houses, leaves worn by priests, and strips of goat skin. These strips were put to good use in the festival of the Lupercalia, held each year on February 15. Young men, naked except for a goat-skin cape, dashed around Rome’s sacred boundary playfully whipping women with the strips. This ancient nudie run was designed to purify the city and promote fertility.”

I just had to share this very interesting read.

But that apart , the No.1 reason I love February is because it is my birthday month. Unlike people who hate growing old and, therefore, hate birthdays, I love birthdays. especially mine.

My mum has always made a big deal about celebrating birthdays and even though most of it is centred round my stomach and my favourite foods, it is also the one day in the year that everyone panders to my whims. So if there is a movie I’ve been wanting to watch, or a book I’d like to buy or a perfume that I desired, a holiday that I would like to go on or even a restaurant that I want to try, this is the perfect opportunity for me to make clear my intent.

I love February because the strawberries at this time of year are largest and sweetest. I remember the small bite sized strawberries that I used to get in my childhood. They were from Mahabaleshwar and in fact even today, one of the highlights of a Mahabaleshwar visit is a visit to a strawberry farm.

February is also the month where you get the best flowers especially with Valentine’s Day playing such an important role these days.

And lastly, I love February because it is the shortest month in the year. I don’t know why, but months with more than 4 Sundays drive me crazy.

Do you have a favourite month?

Ciao