Why is February such a short month, having only 28 or 29 days, whereas the other months have 30 or 31?
ANS: Basically Caesar Augustus stole a day for his month. - In the year 3961 AM, which we call 46 BC, Julius Caesar standardized the civil calendar of the Roman Empire so that it had twelve months with 30 days each. An extra 5 days were spread out among the months to keep the calendar in line with the seasons. Before then, the date depended on observations of the sun and the moon.
He also introduced the concept of the leap day, which adds a day to February every four years. The month of Quintilis was renamed 'July' to honor him for this calendar reform. Later, Caesar Augustus made a minor calendar reform. Under Julius Caesar's calendar, leap day came in the middle of the month and had the same date as the day before.
Caesar Augustus moved the leap day to the end of the month and gave it its own date. February was an unpopular month, because it contained an unpleasant religious observance, so he moved one day from February to the month of Sextilis, which was renamed 'August' in his honor, and now had the same number of days as Julius' month, July. Thus, February was left short.
He also introduced the concept of the leap day, which adds a day to February every four years. The month of Quintilis was renamed 'July' to honor him for this calendar reform. Later, Caesar Augustus made a minor calendar reform. Under Julius Caesar's calendar, leap day came in the middle of the month and had the same date as the day before.
Caesar Augustus moved the leap day to the end of the month and gave it its own date. February was an unpopular month, because it contained an unpleasant religious observance, so he moved one day from February to the month of Sextilis, which was renamed 'August' in his honor, and now had the same number of days as Julius' month, July. Thus, February was left short.
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