février

Février is the second month of the Gregorian calendar and the French name for February. It has 28 days in common years and 29 days in leap years, a pattern adjusted by the leap year rules of the Gregorian calendar. February is preceded by Janvier and followed by Mars.

Its name derives from the Latin februarius, meaning "of Februa", a Roman purification festival held toward the end of winter.

Notable observances include La Chandeleur on February 2 and Saint-Valentin on February 14; Mardi Gras or Carnival often falls in February, with the exact date moving according to the liturgical calendar, and Ash Wednesday typically follows within the same week. In North America, Groundhog Day on February 2 is a popular tradition.

In the Southern Hemisphere, Février marks mid-summer in many regions; seasons are opposite to those in the north.