1February

1 February, also written as February 1, is the first day of February in the Gregorian calendar. It follows January 31 and precedes February 2, and it is the 32nd day of the year in both common and leap years.

Cultural and religious observances associated with this date include Saint Brigid’s Day in Ireland and parts of the Celtic world. February 1 is tied to Imbolc, a Gaelic festival signaling the approach of spring and the renewal of the land’s, and people traditionally mark Brigid’s Day with customs honoring the goddess Brigid. In broader Catholic practice, the date is observed in some regions as the feast day of Saint Brigid.

Notable events that occurred on 1 February have shaped the public record. In 1960, the Greensboro sit-ins began when four African American students sat at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, a moment that helped catalyze the Civil Rights Movement. In 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry over Texas, resulting in the deaths of seven astronauts and triggering a major investigation and program review.

In the United States, National Freedom Day is observed on 1 February to commemorate milestones related to freedom and the abolition of slavery. The date thus carries a mix of historical, cultural, and commemorative significance across different regions and traditions.