by February
February was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification…
Historical names for February include the Anglo-Saxon terms Solmonath (mud month) and Kale-monath (named for cabbage) as well as Charlemagne’s designation Hornung. In Finnish, the month is called helmikuu, meaning “month of the pearl”; when snow melts on tree branches, it forms droplets, and as these freeze again, they are like pearls of ice.
I may be biased, but I love the Finnish name. The cabbage name tickled me as purple as the red cabbage I’d scanned the other day!
February is the also the month of Valentines (though we ignore it) and some years Leap Day. Many famous folk have February birthdays. Today is the 200th birthday of both Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin, imagine that, born exactly the same day and year!
And last but not least, yesterday, February 11th was my (not-so-famous) birthday. I took pleasure in the mostly sunny day, the snowdrops that are finally (a month late) blooming in my garden, and in our walkabout and delicious dinner on Granville Island. To come later is my husband’s birthday, so it’s a great month!
P.S. Unrelated, but here’s a music video to make you smile: The Mom Song, with thanks to Viides Rooli.
February 12, 2009 in History, Neat stuff by Marja-Leena
Happy Birthday!
That mom kind of scared me!
happy birthday.
I loved the mom video…I would have liked to run my family like that, but never had the energy…
Herzliche Glückwünsche zum Geburtstag, Marja-Leena! What kind of cake did you have?
Waddya mean, not so famous? Had I known I would have played all four parts of the Lemminkäinen suite. Perhaps, too, Tapiola but it does so remind me of an unsuccessful pudding. Anyway, anniversarial (alas, it’s not a real word) greetings from your apprentice-in-scanning.
Hattie, thanks, and I was both laughing and horrified at that mom.
Rosie, thanks. It takes a lot of energy being a mom without being like that one.
Rouchswalwe, danke! I had one spoonful of my husband’s mocha pecan cheesecake.
Barrett, I would have loved to have heard your playing. Thanks for the greetings!
Hi there ML – wishing you a fantastic (belated) birthday and a year of creativity and joy. We’re in a total planetary storm of Aquarian energy — should be quite a year for you!
Lainie, thank you for the good wishes. I sure need some of that energy!
Happy Birthday! Paljon Onnea syntymäpäivän johdosta!
And a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Kiitos, Anna, ja Hyvää Ystävänpäivää sinulle!
A belated happy birthday! Your snowdrops are clean and pristine. The ones I photographed here a few weeks ago, were specked with bits of mud from the rain.
funny…my birthday is February 12th!!
coincidence both being Aquarius and so close our b-days!!!
Marja-leena: Belated Happy Birthday! I love the Finnish name for February – so beautiful. It fits the kind of weather we have here – somewhat. From one day to the next, we may have warm rains, cold blows, heavy snows, then rain and slush and…you get the picture! Hmmm…I’ve got to figure out how to fit that “month of the pearl” into something.
Joe, thank you!
Taina, that’s amazing and I’m rather tickled! I have several friends with birthdays on the 12th.
Jackie, thank you! I’m curious to see what you do with the pearl.
Belated but heartfelt HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Marja-Leena. Your beautiful photo gives me spring hope.