February was and remains one of the shortest months in the current calendar. Only once every four years he gets another 1 day, which often pleases no one except the birthday people.

And he was born the last of all known months. Why did it happen, and who invented such an injustice?

Calendar history

The modern world lives according to the Gregorian calendar. He received a gift from the ancient Roman and Julian. Despite the almost world domination of Rome, in the reckoning of those times there was complete confusion. So, three millennia ago, the year began in March, when they started sowing agricultural work. The cycle consisted of 304 days, divided into 10 months.

The years were not counted in order. Each of them was called the name of the ruler seated on the throne. And in the settlements, the days were counted differently. For example, in one region October could be 32 days, and in another - it did not reach 25 or exceeded 39. The only thing that this mighty nation adhered to was the periodicity of alternating odd and even months.

The latter were not in honor. People tried not to set ambitious plans for even months, considering them less successful for global events. And for a long time, the emperors did not think that the calendar year does not correspond at all to the actual lunar and solar cycles.

The appearance of January and February

The first to pay attention to this was King Numo. Such a mismatch confused him.He decided to reform. To restore compliance, it took two months to add to the end of the year. So mankind appeared in January and February. It turned out to allocate 28 days for the last. Its name translates as "purification." Since he completed the year with himself, he devoted himself to the rites associated with the long-dead ancestors.

Such an innovation did not completely reduce the difference. Indeed, in a year there is not a whole number of days (365), but with a clock. Ticking, they gradually move the calendar cycle from the actual one. At some point, the gap reached 90 days. Again, there was a need to do something.

The appearance of a leap year on the calendar

The discerning Julius Caesar entrusted this well-known task to the famous astronomer - Sozigen. By means of mathematical calculations, the scientist came to the conclusion that it is necessary to add 1 more day every 4 years, accumulated by extra hours. And it was decided to give it to February. So the concept of “leap year” (“annus bissextus”) appeared. Translated, this expression means "twice the sixth." The origin of the term stems from the peculiarities of counting days in Roman fashion. The month was divided into three decades. The first was called the "calendar" (hence the word "calendar" arose).

The second was called "nona", and the third - "ida." It is not known with any whim, the Romans did not add a day at the end of February, but repeated twice 24 days. It sounded something like this: the sixth day before the March calendar. ” That is, twice the sixth (bisextus).

Over time, all over the world this word has transformed into "leap".And still associated with difficulties, failures and problems. This is probably why the offended winter month often avenges people with severe weather.

Beginning of the year from January

The ups and downs did not end there. Caesar made his adjustments as ruler and changed the structure of the year. Now it began in January. And he was followed by the very unfortunate February. This innovation was immortalized in the summer of July, glorifying the formidable emperor for centuries.

Why is August 31 days and February 28-29

The connection between February and August

The next emperor, Octavian Augustus, wished to continue the baton of his predecessor. And the last warm month began to bear his sonorous name. According to sources, in August of those times there should have been 30 days. But the emperor did not want to come to terms with his unpleasant fate, remembering the shadow of failures of even months. They decided to pinch off the day at februum, as at the youngest and most hateful.

An interesting story in February. Introduced by the latter into the calendar system, it was intended to reduce the inexorably growing gap difference with solar-lunar cycles. And it turned out to be the second in a row, but the shortest and forever unloved.