“A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

Thirty days hath September

April, June, and November

All the rest have thirty-one

Except February alone

Which hath twenty-eight, in fine,

Till leap year gives it twenty-29

Well, January adds itself to the beginning of the old year, and February, 2012 invites you to its stay.

February happenings

According to the Georgian calendar, February is the second month of the year, and also the shortest month.  

February had twenty-eight days until Julius Caesar gave it 29, and thirty days every four years.  

According to tradition, Augustus, the Roman emperor, took one day off to add one day to August, the month named after him.  

We now have February with twenty-eight days, and 29 on leap years.

In the northern half of the world, February is a very cold month.  

There are usually sunny days that show Spring is not too far off.  

The Southern hemisphere usually enjoys midsummer weather during February.

The second day of February is often referred to as Ground Hog’s Day.  

The story goes if a ground hog comes out of its burrow on Feb. 2, to look for its shadow, and if he sees his shadow, there will be more days of winter, but if he doesn’t see his shadow, then we will have an early Spring.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated on Feb. 14 in most western countries.  

Children give valentines and have a party at school.  Young and old exchange cards with loved ones, and usually give gifts of candy and flowers.  

The custom is hundreds of years old, dating back to the 1400s.

The third Monday in February is President’s Day.  Both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays were in February.

It is considered a Federal holiday for celebration of Washington’s birthday, but most states honor all presidents on this day.

The amethyst is the birthstone for February, and the primrose is the flower for the month of February.

February is also the month set aside for the celebration of African-Americans and their contributions to society.  

It was started  by Carter G. Woodson and was at first called Black History Week, and was later extended to Black History Month, but the accomplishments of Blacks and their contributions are now recognized throughout the year.

The Supreme Court of the United States met for the first time, Feb. 1, 1790.

Langston Hughes, American writer was born on this day in 1902.

Mexico by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, gave New Mexico and California to the United States, Feb. 2, 1848.

Famous February birthdays:

Horace Greeley, American publisher was born Feb. 3, 1811.

Charles A. Lindbergh, American writer, was born Feb. 4, 1902.

Evangelist Dwight Moody was born Feb. 5, 1837.

Aaron Burr, American political leader was born Feb. 6, 1756.

British novelist, Charles Dickens, was born Feb. 7, 1812.

A person born on Feb. 29 may be called a “leapling”  or a “leaper.”  

In common years they usually celebrate their birthdays on Feb. 28 or March 1.  March 1 is used as the birthday in a non-leap year since it is the day following Feb. 28.

For legal purposes, legal birthdays depend on how local laws count their time intervals.

Hopefully you have learned a lot about the month of February, and you are wondering if Ground Hog’s Day is fact or fiction.  

Well, the days to come will tell. Let us be thankful that the Lord has allowed us to enter into the second month of 2012, and let us expect great blessings from His hands.

These are just a few of the great happenings during the month of February.

Dr. M. Charmaine Ragin

Congratulations go to Dr. M. Charmaine Ragin, pastor of Bethel AME Church at 401 Broad St. in Georgetown.  Dr. Ragin celebrated 30 years of pastoral ministry on Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Glisson Center with a dinner and program that recognized her accomplishments during those years.  

Darrian Gardner served as program guide, and others on program included Mr. Steven Williams, Rev. John A. Ragin, Presiding Elder, retired; Nicholas and Vance Ragin, Brittany Barber, Charlene Mitchell, Durell Mitchell and Nytacia Barber.

Dr. Ragin’s accomplishments, both past and present, exceed the margins of this article, but we pray continued success for such a gracious and humble woman of God.

Prayer

Please continue to pray for the sick and shut in, the bereaved, those in nursing homes and hospitals, those facing any type of medical procedure, the elderly, the homeless, the hungry, the naked, the penniless, the unemployed, those without transportation, the mentally disturbed, troubled teenagers and their parents, our men and women in the military, especially those on the battlefields, their families, those in prison, and those imprisoned by their minds, our store keepers and the successful sales of their products, and for each other.

Thank you for joining me on Saturday afternoons at 12:30, and Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. on 1470 AM WLMC Radio.

May the Lord continue to keep you and guide you and bless you abundantly, and grant you His peace.