Veebruaril

Veebruaril is the Estonian word for February. It is the second month of the Gregorian calendar year, following January and preceding March. February has 28 days in common years and 29 days in leap years. Leap years occur every four years, with the exception of years divisible by 100 but not by 400. This extra day in a leap year is added to February, making it 29 days long.

In Estonia, February is typically one of the coldest months of the year. Snow is common, and temperatures often remain below freezing. Daylight hours begin to increase significantly during February, marking the slow transition towards spring. Traditional Estonian customs and holidays may occur in February, though they are less numerous than in the preceding or succeeding months. For example, Estonian Independence Day is celebrated on February 24th.

The etymology of the word "veebruaril" is derived from the Latin word "Februarius," which was named after the Roman festival of purification called "februa." This festival was held in the middle of February. The month's association with purification and cleansing has carried through to its name in many languages, including Estonian. Historically, February was often the last month of the year in some ancient calendars, before the calendar was reformed to its current structure.