Month's Heading: February, Roman Time of Purification

The first day of every month I will make an introductory ‘article’ (please, forgive my pretentiousness) about that particular time of the year, which will basically be a collection of facts that I find peculiar written in my rather chaotic style ;-). Obviously, that introduction will have some songs to illustrate the feelings that such month evokes in me, and hopefully will in you. Needless to say, not all these songs will be pop music and many of them won’t be danceable, but then again, not all the musicians I will post about will sing pop in the strictest sense of the word. Or some in any sense, let’s be honest. :-)

Something peculiar about the month of February is that it is the most recent addition to the Roman calendar, and thus to ours. Originally, the Romans considered the cold winter season as month-less, and only Numa Pompilius’ exasperation with the inadequate lunar calendar, which kept moving back and forth through the seasons, gave January and February their rightful place in the beginning of the solar year.



February received its name from the Roman ritual of februum (Purification), which was celebrated in the 15 th day of the month. Given the, let’s say 'peculiar nature' of Roman religion, I don’t want to imagine in what did that ‘purification’ consist, but I guess that it was an important ritual, gory displays of brutality and all, and thanks to it February became the 28 day month that we know and love… When it’s not snowing and we can see the sun for more than half an hour every day. Oh, English weather…



Still, things weren’t that well and the months seemed to have a love for wandering across the seasons, the tramps, and several measures had to be implemented: a Mensis Intercalaris originally covered the days missing to keep things in their place, and during the Middle Ages February was given two more days by celebrated English mathematician, astronomer and literate Johannes de Sacro Bosco (whose name translates to the rather tacky John of Hollywood), who taught everything imaginable at the University of Paris – just imagine having him as your supervisor… ugh!



Well, anyway, the Gregorian Reform changed all these patchy adjustments so that we could have Easter right at the vernal equinox, and not anywhere else in the year. Apparently, when the reform was implemented, which forced all official calendars to be advanced ten days, angry mobs revolted against this measure because it took 10 days away from their lives, which is a bit strange, given the fact that most of these people were peasants and life for them was perpetual torture…

But enough of my droning! Here you have two songs: Loreena McKennitt’s folk marvels Snow and Seeds Of Love, from the gorgeous EP ‘A Winter Garden’ (I know it's a Christmas album, but what the heck, it's wintery music ;-P). If you like what you hear, buy any of her wondrous records here.