Statue of Augustus who was part of the reason why February has 28 days

Why Does February Have 28 Days? A Story of Power, Pride, and Roman Practicality

—

by

Made of Rome
in

The months of the year have a peculiar rhythm—some with 30 days, others with 31, and February standing out with just 28 days (29 in leap years). But how did we end up with this uneven distribution? To understand, we must look back to ancient Rome and the evolution of its calendar, shaped by superstition, politics, and practicality.

The Early Roman Calendar: A 10-Month System

The story begins with Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome, who created the first Roman calendar around 753 BCE. This early calendar consisted of only 10 months, totaling 304 days, and left the winter months unaccounted for. The year began in March (Martius), the month of Mars, the god of war, and ended in December (December), the “tenth month.”

The months alternated between 31 and 30 days, as odd numbers were considered lucky by the Romans. Even numbers, however, were avoided wherever possible, leaving a glaring gap of about 61 uncounted winter days.

Numa Pompilius and the Creation of January and February

Numa Pompilius, Rome’s second king (715–673 BCE), reformed the calendar to better align it with the lunar year of 354 days. He added two new months: January (Januarius), named after Janus, the god of beginnings, and February (Februarius), named after the purification festival Februa.

To achieve a total of 355 days—still not perfect but closer to the lunar cycle—Numa assigned an even number of days (28) to February, as it was considered an unlucky month associated with rituals for the dead. At the time, February was still the last month of the year.

Julius Caesar and the Julian Calendar

The Roman calendar remained imperfect and frequently fell out of sync with the solar year. By 46 BCE, Julius Caesar took it upon himself to reform the system, introducing the Julian calendar. He extended the year to 365 days by adding days to several months and created a leap year system to account for the extra 0.25 days in the solar year.

At this point, most months were assigned 30 or 31 days, but February remained at 28 days. Why? February was still seen as an unlucky month and continued to bear the brunt of adjustments in the calendar.

Why February Was Sacrificed

The uneven distribution of days across months can be traced back to political decisions. When Julius Caesar reformed the calendar, he didn’t disrupt February’s 28-day structure, likely due to its association with purification and rituals. This left February as the shortest month, a quirk that persists to this day.

The Rivalry Between July and August

The calendar saw one final adjustment during the reign of Emperor Augustus. After Julius Caesar’s death, the Roman Senate renamed Quintilis (the fifth month) as July in his honor. Later, Augustus wanted his own month, and Sextilis (the sixth month) was renamed August.

To elevate August to the same prestige as July, Augustus added a day to it, taking from February. This change gave both July and August 31 days, and February was left shortened, cementing its status as the odd month out. He also changed September and November to thirty days and gave October and December 31 days.

Fun Facts About February and the Calendar

  • February’s Leap Year Connection: The extra day in February every four years, introduced by Julius Caesar, aligns the calendar with the solar year.
  • The Superstitious Romans: Romans considered odd numbers lucky, which is why many months have 31 days. However, February’s association with death rituals led to its even—and unlucky—28-day length.
  • Calendar Confusion: Before the Julian reform, Roman officials had significant power over the calendar. They could manipulate it for political gain, such as extending their terms in office.

The Legacy of February’s 28 Days

February’s unique length is a relic of ancient Roman traditions, a testament to how practicality, superstition, and politics shaped the calendar we still use today. While its 28-day span may seem like a historical oversight, it’s a fascinating reminder of humanity’s evolving relationship with time and the enduring influence of Rome.

So next time February rolls around, spare a thought for this curious month—short, unlucky, and steeped in Roman history.