februarius

Februarius is the Latin name for the second month of the ancient Roman calendar, corresponding to February in the modern Gregorian system. It followed Ianuarius and preceded Martius, and its position reflected the later attempt to align the calendar with the solar year.

The name derives from februa, a set of purification rites performed during the month. The purification festival, known as Februa or Februalia, was associated with cleansing the city, households, and individuals in preparation for the coming spring. In Roman religious practice, Februus, a deity connected with purification, is sometimes linked to the origins of the month’s name.

In early Roman calendars, Februarius typically had 28 days, though intercalation and calendar adjustments could affect the total. The major reform of the calendar by Julius Caesar in 45 BCE reorganized the system so that February gained a fixed place and, in leap years, 29 days while other months were adjusted accordingly. Under the Gregorian reform, February remains 28 days in common years and 29 days in leap years.

Beyond antiquity, the Latin name Februarius survived in scholarly and ecclesiastical usage, and it is the etymological source for the names of February in many Romance languages and for the English word February. In Roman literature and calendrical writings, Februarius is noted for its association with purification rites and with the transitional period toward spring.