By Emma Wertheimer, Year 9
February, being the shortest month of the year, is packed with some of the most diverse traditions worldwide. The festivities in countries ranging from the USA to Italy are all unique in their very own ways.
To begin with, in Brazil, from February 9th to February 17th, all along the streets of Rio de Janeiro, people gather to celebrate the passage of darkness into light and from winter to spring all while singing, dancing, and dressing up in their most colorful selection of clothes. The Brazilian Carnival has been around for many years and each year is celebrated with street parades as well as public parties and many public gatherings. The first Carnaval was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1723 and has been celebrated with great energy and passion every year since.
Further North than Brazil, in the USA, the Super Bowl and Groundhog Day are two major events that are eagerly awaited and enthusiastically celebrated. The Super Bowl, the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) is played on the second Sunday of February. During this event, big parties are thrown and individuals invite family and friends over to watch the big game. This year’s game was somewhat controversial, with some claiming that Taylor Swift’s relationship with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce was part of a conspiracy theory! On the other hand, this year’s game roused the interest of a new demographic of fans due to Swift’s presence. Another significant event celebrated in the United States at this time of year is Groundhog Day. Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2nd every year, and its purpose is for people get together to predict how much longer will the winter last. All these predictions depend on when the groundhog (a small rodent) makes its long-awaited star appearance.
Next on the prodigious list of February’s celebrations is Valentine’s Day, the worldwide festivity celebrated on February 14th every year, is a day where people embrace love and kindness by gifting each other a variation of gifts such as roses and chocolates, as well as teddy bears and much more. The celebration of Valentine’s Day goes back to the 5th century when Pope Gelasius declared February 14th Saint Valentine’s Day. It is not clear how a holiday that started off celebrating a Saint evolved into a holiday that surrounds love, but it is now firmly a holiday that encircles an individual’s affection for their partners, not religion.
Another holiday that celebrates a Saint is none other than San Biagio. Although not well known, and a much more local celebration, the Italians conduct different festivities on February 3rd to honor the Saint. On this day, in certain areas of Italy, it is tradition to eat a leftover panettone from the holidays. By eating the panettone, it is believed that San Biagio (the protector of the throat) will grace you with his health.
Finally, every four years, February welcomes a Leap Year, which truly cements its place as a special month filled with exciting events.
