Just because February is the shortest month of the year, the calendar reveals it is not without some very interesting and varied days of note. Let us look at them.
From Day One we observe National Freedom Day, a day I also knew little about, in fact had never heard of before until I saw it noted on my calendar; a note to self on how America has treated the race situation. Honestly, how many of you readers knew that holiday exists, or what it signifies? National Freedom Day was established in 1948 to commemorate the signing of the Thirteenth Amendment by President Lincoln in 1865, which ultimately abolished slavery forever. The day runs hand in hand with Black History Month, which was established in 1970 and is celebrated in the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Britain and Ireland.
While I have no intention of wading into race relations, I can say that my personal experiences have led me to certain conclusions regarding the matter I mention here in passing not looking for agreement nor argument. In my lifetime I have worked with and lived among Black folks in five different states, and my experiences have led me to the conclusion that no white person, no matter how empathetic one is, can truly understand the Black experience in America; we lack the psychological ability to relate to their history. If you are white, your ancestors were not brought to this land in chains, and that is just the beginning of the Black experience whites cannot fathom; try as we might.
The next day of significance noted on the February calendar is the 2nd, which is Groundhog Day, observed here and in Canada. This is an old and rather funny little day, first mentioned in America in 1840 in Pennsylvania Dutch country, where a groundhog, widely known as Punxsutawney Phil, pops out of his hole and either sees his shadow or does not see his shadow; an act which determines, so they say, the weather for the next six weeks. The history of this day is long and not very scientific; if I were you, I would stick to the National Weather Service when planting your gardens.
Twelve days later is Valentine’s Day, one of those insignificant days promoted by florists, greeting card companies and candy manufacturers. The history of this day again somehow relates to one of the many religions of the world so, again, not my thing and I’ll move on.
Also, last weekend was, on Sunday the 15th, National Flag Day in Canada and if I had a regulation Maple Leaf flag, I would fly it just to show solidarity with our friends to the north, which is a far better country and people that our small-minded president has tried, and failed, to portray otherwise. To celebrate and bolster their own country, Canada also celebrates Family Day on the next day, Feb. 16; which is when we here in America celebrate President’s Day. Many of us can remember when we celebrated Lincoln’s birthday on the 12th and Washington’s birthday on the 22nd on whatever day of the week they happen to fall, but in 1968 a law was passed to give government workers a three-day weekend by combining the two days together. A look at the history of this day shows it is not celebrated the same in all states, some choosing to recognize Washington’s birthday and other presidents on this date.
Now we come to yesterday, the 17th day of February, where three rather widely varied days are celebrated: the Chinese New Year, Ramadan and Mardi Gras. Not adhering to the Gregorian calendar as do many other nations, China has for centuries used the lunisolar Chinese Calendar, which marks the new year, the ending of Winter and the beginning of Spring, on the full moon falling between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. For the Chinese, this will be the Year of the Horse. Ramadan started yesterday for the Islamic world marking the beginning of a 29- or 30-day observance, from crescent moon to crescent moon, where a daily fast, from dawn to sunset, is one ritual, three others are prayer, personal reflection and community. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is traditionally believed when the Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad.
And finally, is Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, also falling on the 17th this year. My mother always wanted to attend the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, and for the life of me I never understood why given her rather strait-laced religious background; I suppose it was just the pageantry of it all that intrigued her. Later in life when my half-brother was playing regularly on Bourbon Street (Glenn was a Dixieland musician), she did spend time in the Crescent City but never during Mardi Gras. Most of you have seen images of the three-day celebration, so you know of the street parades, music and revelry, but if you want a deeper history, you’re on your own and here’s why.
The day following Fat Tuesday, today, is Ash Wednesday, which is tied into Lent and other rituals I only know about because growing up my Catholic friends observed them. I was raised a Methodist and, in Greenfield at least, it was the Holy Trinity Church parishioners who got a cross of ashes on their foreheads and observed the 40-day Lent abstention of certain foods. I don’t really keep up on religious matters so not sure if this time is still a big deal with people or not.
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I received a very informative email from Jackie regarding the Moon Tree I wrote about in a recent column and was prepared to follow up on that but will not do so until I have communicated with someone at Mary Chapa Academy. Twice I have left messages, the latest in the principal’s voicemail, and twice have gotten no response, so until I do, that story will wait.
Take care. Peace.
