February is a month teeming with holidays and celebrations. From Presidents George’s and Abe’s birthdays to Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras, the shortest month of the year has its days packed full of good times. Plus, February claims two of the more widely known monthly observations—Black History and American Heart.
And to top it all off, February earns an extra day every four years in the form of a
Leap Day. I guess some years just require that extra day of revelry. (But then, what happens to that poor kid who has the misfortune of a birthday on February 29th? Hopefully an awesome party every four years!)
Even though we approach the last week of the month, I would like to give a shout out to two lesser known commemorative holidays in February that celebrate Susan B. Anthony, February 15th, and Charles Darwin, February 12th.
Anthony was an American social reformer and women’s rights activist who played a pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement. She also became the first woman to be depicted on United States currency when her portrait appeared on the 1979 silver dollar coin. Sadly, the coin was only minted for about two years due, primarily in part, to its similarity to a quarter. Still, I can’t help but keep an eye out for one when I go through an old jar of coins.
Next, Darwin Day is an international day that is celebrated around the world. Generally observed as a day to promote science, it is also used as an opportunity to remember Darwin’s contributions to science. And any holiday that encourages learning, studying and reading is a holiday worth remembering. So, enjoy that big bowl of primordial soup before heading out to the museum!
