February

A new month begins today and we all get to turn a page on the calendar. Something different to look at.

This month may seem like another slog of relentless lockdown, homeschooling, homeworking but there are a few definite highlights to brighten up the wintry gloom.

Daylight will last longer in the afternoons, giving us more time to get outside. Birds will start singing, as it’s time for them to find a mate- you’ll see them pairing up and finding good spots to nest. Bulbs are pushing their shoots up so there’ll be crocuses in flowerbeds and grassy places along with more clumps of snowdrops and the first few flowers on trees to offer us a bit of outdoor colour.

Chinese New Year starts on Friday 12th February- it will be the year of the Ox next year, ironically; strength, reliability and resilience are the key characteristics of the Ox so hang on in there and embrace the Ox! Red and gold are the colours of Chinese New Year, for luck and prosperity. It’s traditional to thoroughly clean your house to get the new year off to a good start and keep the Kitchen God happy. If you happen to have spare time on your hands, spring cleaning starts here!

Then there’s Valentines Day- love it or loathe it, maybe this year could be an opportunity to share some love – don’t use commercialism as an excuse to ignore it- and spread a little love around your family, neighbours, village.

The following day- Monday 15th is half term week, so families all get some time off homeschooling and teachers might have a day to catch their breath. If you live with a teacher, nurture them.

Tuesday 16th February is Shrove Tuesday, otherwise known as Mardi Gras-carnival time! Get your best carnival costumes out and dance whilst flipping pancakes.

And finally, what did the Romans ever do for us? One thing they did was create the month of February, which was named after the Februa Festival of Purification- another nod to spring cleaning? I prefer the Anglo-Saxon tradition of calling February Solmonath - Month of Cakes. Make of that what you will!

With only 28 days in February this year, there are definite highlights we can rely on- whether it’s a cherished connection to nature or a marking of tradition, this month is the bridge towards spring, which will be here before you know it.

4 comments

Melissa

February 1, 2021 at 12:08 pm

This is brilliant!!! Lots more of this please, with this and Instagram, who knows where this could go….. xxx

admin

February 1, 2021 at 3:23 pm

Thanks Melissa! I’m working on my website now…

Clare Lardner

February 2, 2021 at 5:15 am

Very positive and beautifully written. Welcome to the blogosphere xx

Helen

February 3, 2021 at 11:36 am

Thanks Clare! Nice to hear from you on blog!