Februarius

February arrived and I suddenly realized I had not yet hung up the calendar I had received for a gift last fall. At the time, I was so pleased I could scarcely wait for the year to end so that I could begin using it! It did briefly come to mind a few times in January, but on each occasion I was involved and the thought quickly faded. Anyways, it is now being proudly displayed, and after all it's only February, so no harm done. I will post each month as we move through the year. 

The poem below it is a Native American late winter song; I feel it complements the calendar very nicely. As winter drags on, I feel myself beginning to echo their sentiments.

‘Oh, long, long
The snow has possessed the mountains.
The deer have come down and the big-horn, 

They have followed the sun to the south
To feed on the mesquite pods and the bunch grass.
Loud are the thunder drums in the tents of the mountains.

Oh, long, long 
Have we eaten chia seeds 
and dried deer's flesh of the summer killing.
We are tired of our huts
and the smoky smell of our clothing.
We are sick with the desire for the sun

And the grass on the mountain 
-Paiute Late Winter Song- 


I am a huge fan of Native/Inuit art. We have a few pieces of Inuit art which our son kindly brought back from a few jobs he worked at in Baffin Island and the North West Territories. Here is one of my favourites.

The word February is believed to have derived from the name 'Februa' taken from the Roman 'Festival of Purification'. The root 'februo' meaning to 'I purify by sacrifice'. As part of the seasonal calendar February is the time of the 'Ice Moon' according to Pagan beliefs, and the period described as the 'Moon of the Dark Red Calf' by Black Elk. February has also been known as 'Sprout-kale' by the Anglo-Saxons in relation to the time the kale and cabbage was edible.