1 Feb
Imbolc (Pagan)
One of the four principal festivals of the Celtic calendar, celebrated either at the beginning of February or at the first signs of Spring. Originally dedicated to the goddess Brighid, in the Christian period it was adopted as St. Brigid's Day. The festival celebrates the awakening of the land and the growing power of the sun. Fire and purification are considered by many to be an important aspect of this festival, the lighting of candles and fires being symbolic of the return of warmth associated with the approach of spring.
2 Feb
Candlemas
Also known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Presentation of the Lord, and the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. This Christian feast commemorates the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple. Candlemas derives its name from the custom of congregations holding lighted candles during the celebration in church and from the tradition whereby a priest would bless candles for use during the coming year.
3 Feb
Setsubun (Bean Scattering)
In Japan, Setsubun is the day before the beginning of each season, but is generally used to refer to the Spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun, celebrated yearly on 3rd February. Spring Setsubun is traditionally celebrated by the head of the household throwing pan-heated soybeans out the door, while chanting "Demons out! Luck in!" At Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines all over the country, there are celebrations for Setsubun: priests and invited guests will throw roasted soy beans (some wrapped in gold or silver foil), small envelopes with money, sweets, candies and other prizes. Families will also put up small decorations of fish heads and holly leaves on their house entrances so that bad spirits will not enter.
8 Feb
or
15 Feb
Parinirvana (Nirvana Day)
Buddhist holiday celebrated in East Asia. Some Buddhists celebrate this day on 8th February, but most do so on 15th February. The day celebrates the occasion when Buddha achieved Parinirvana, or complete Nirvana, upon the death of his physical body at the age of 80. The day is known as Nirvana Day by Pure Land Buddhists.
12 Feb
Mahashivratri (Great Shiva Night)
Also known as Maha Shivratri (Great Shiva Night) or Shivaratri (Night of Shiva), this is the night on which Shiva is said to perform the cosmic dance from creation to destruction. The most significant practices on this day are offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to Shiva, all-night prayer vigils focusing on Shiva and his shrines and statues, and fasting. Milk is also poured on Shiva's symbol, the lingam.
14 Feb
St. Valentine's Day
The traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other, sending Valentine's cards and gifts, often anonymously. The holiday is named after two men, both Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the Middle Ages, later being marked with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines". Since the 19th century, however, hand-written notes have been superseded by mass-produced greeting cards, leading some to disparagingly call Valentine's Day a "Hallmark holiday".
14 - 16 Feb
(3 days)
Losar
Tibetan New Year festival, often also celebrated in Nepal. Losar is celebrated for 15 days, but it is the first three days that constitute the main celebrations. Although chiefly a secular celebration, Losar includes the rededication of Tibet to Buddhism and also celebrates the miracles performed by Buddha at Sravasti.
14 Feb
Yuan Tan (Chinese New Year)
The most important of all the traditional Chinese holidays. The New Year season lasts for 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival, but it is the first week of the festivities that is considered the most important. The festival is celebrated with fireworks, dances (especially Lion Dances) and the giving of gifts, flowers and sweets. Gold and red are the dominant colours — gold symbolizing the wish for prosperity, red traditionally being considered a lucky colour. On the eve of the New Year a reunion dinner is held, when members of the extended family gather together. On New Year's Day, red envelopes containing ey are exchanged. Most importantly, the first day of the Chinese New Year is a time when family members, in order of their seniority, will pay a visit to the oldest and most senior member of their family.
16 Feb
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is the name given to the day before Ash Wednesday in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia. Traditionally, this day was set aside for repentance and absolution in preparation for Lent. Shrove Tuesday is the last day of "shrovetide," which is the English equivalent to the Carnival tradition. In countries with the Carnival tradition, the day before Ash Wednesday is known either as the "Tuesday of Carnival" or "Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras)". In Britain, Shrove Tuesday is commonly known as Pancake Day, after the tradition of consuming pancakes made to use up all the rich foods prohibited during Lent.
16 Feb
Mardi Gras
The day before Ash Wednesday, being equivalent to Shrove Tuesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" and is the final day of Carnival before the privations of Lent.
17 Feb
Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent (the period when Christians remember the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness and the temptations he faced during this time). The name arises from the tradition of using ash to mark a cross on the foreheads of worshippers during the service marking the beginning of Lent.
17 Feb –
3 Apr
Lent
The period of forty days (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter, during which Christ’s time in the wilderness is commemorated. It is a time of fasting, discipline and self-denial. Traditionally Christians give up something they enjoy during Lent, often giving the money they save to church funds or charity.
19 Feb
Vasanta Panchami/
Saraswati Puja
Widely celebrated in North India, this festival marks the beginning of spring. It is usually linked with Saraswati, the goddess of learning and the arts.
19 Feb
Basant
Basant is a spring festival celebrated in the Indian subcontinent by people of all religions and marks the arrival of Spring. For Namdhari Sikhs, however, it has added significance, who celebrate Basant to mark the birth of their founder, Baba (guru) Ram Singh. He stressed meditation and prayer, and encouraged Sikh non-cooperation with the colonial rule through non-violent means.
26 Feb
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Milad un Nabi) (Sunni)
Day on which Sunni Muslims commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. In the Indian subcontinent and some Arab countries the celebration starts with readings from the Qur'an, followed by poetry and songs in praise of the Prophet. In some big cities of the Islamic world the day is marked by processions and flag waving under large decorations of lights.
28 Feb
Teng Chieh (Lantern Festival)
This traditional Chinese festival occurs on the day of the first full moon of the year and marks the end of the Chinese New Year season. Celebrations include fireworks, folk dancing and traditional public performances such as the dragon parade and the lion dance. Yuanxiao, a round, sweet, stuffed dumpling made with sticky rice flour is the traditional food associated with this festival. People hang paper lanterns along streets and around homes and carry them around parks and outside temples. People often write auspicious phrases on the lanterns to ward off evil spirits and attract good ones; some will decorate their lantern with a riddle and award a prize to the first person who solves it. The light given off by the lanterns is said to attract heavenly spirits and allow celebrants the chance to see them.
28 Feb
Purim
Festival celebrating the events related in the Book of Esther about how the Jews of Persia were saved from Haman's plot to exterminate them. In synagogues, the Book of Esther is read aloud twice, the name of Haman being drowned out with rattles and hooters by the congregation. The festival is also celebrated by the giving of gifts of food and drink, giving charity to the poor, and a celebratory meal. Other customs include drinking alcohol, wearing of masks and costumes, and the eating of Hamantashen ("Haman's pockets"), which are cakes filled with poppy seeds.
28 Feb
Magha Puja
An important Buddhist holy day, observed with meditation, chanting and listening to sermons. The day commemorates the occasion when 1,250 enlightened disciples of the Buddha came spontaneously to the Bamboo Grove on the full moon of the month of Magha. Buddha predicted his death and recited a summary of his teachings and a code of discipline which all Buddhist monks are expected to recite fortnightly.
