Holidays and Observances in February
February 1 National Freedom Day; St. Brigit’s Day
February 2 Groundhog’s Day; Candlemas; Cross Quarter Day of Imbolc.
February 12 Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday
February 13-16 President’s Day Weekend; Great Backyard Bird Count
February 14 St. Valentine’s Day
February 15 Susan B. Anthony Day (Florida)
February17 Shrove Tuesday-Mardi Gras; Ramadan begins at sundown
February 18 Ash Wednesday begins Lent
February 22 George Washington’s Birthday
February 23 Orthodox Lent Begins
February is normally a month of snow with weather usually cold enough to maintain a good ground cover of snow for snow mobiles, cross country and alpine skiing, and snow shoeing. Many lakes are frozen enough for ice fishing or even snow mobiles. Many communities have winter or snow festivals during the month some with snow mobile or skiing / snow shoeing races. Ice sculptures, snow men and family friendly ice skating are sometimes featured as well.
This January had plenty of cold weather and snow, and chances are this will continue into February, likely being a better year for North Country businesses dependent upon skiers and snow mobiles for their winter economy. Special winter events and festivals are held in Boonville, Inlet, Old Forge, Turin, and Cooperstown.
President’s Day in mid-February is a break period for many schools in the area. At times, this week off might be shortened if the schools have used an excessive number of closed schools related to the weather. For those who can afford it, a winter vacation to Florida or the Caribbean is an option that many enjoy.
President’s Weekend is also the Great Backyard Bird Count, a citizen science project that has more participants almost every year. Observations of bird species and numbers seen largely at feeders are made by thousands of people on ebird.org. This reveals over time where birds are just prior to spring migration. Those with more ambition can make observations in parks or nature areas. More information can be found at Audubon Society or Cornell school of Ornithology, or at Great Backyard Bird Count – Join us each February when the world comes together to watch, learn about, count, and celebrate birds. .
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Ground Hog’s Day is the Cross Quarter Day of Imbolc, midway between the winter solstice and vernal equinox, the beginning of spring on the Celtic calendars. It was known as Candlemas in Medieval Europe. If the ground hog sees his shadow coming, he is scared back into den, predicting a longer winter and later spring. If he is not scared, an early spring is expected. This imported idea from Germany has evolved into an iconic American ground hog, Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania who receives national attention on February 2nd.
Valentine’s Day is a romantic holiday for couples. Chocolates and a card are near mandatory with some couples, and special dinners for two are prepared at many restaurants. It’s also a huge day for florists and those companies specializing in romantic gifts of jewelry.
Inside sports are popular, led by the AHL Utica Comets and Utica University Pioneers and other regional college or high school hockey. High school and college basketball are also popular. A wide variety of musical concerts are held at schools and colleges, and various art centers in Utica, Clinton, Rome, Holland Patent, Barneveld and Remsen. Small scale live community theater plays are performed in Utica, Rome, and Ilion. And a variety of arts and critically acclaimed films shown at Hamilton College, MVCC, Utica University and Munson.
Religious celebrations begin both Christian Lent, and the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan. Ash Wednesday is on February 18, beginning Lent one day after Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday. On Mardi Gras are large festivals in New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, and Québec, and pancake races between Olney, England, and Liberal, Kansas..
Ramadan, a month of fasting and religious meditation in Islam begins at sunset on February 17. Based on a lunar calendar, it occurs about 11 days earlier every year. It is a month of fasting from food, drink and smoking from dawn to dusk, with the evening meal, called an Iftar, breaking the fast at dusk. The festival of Eid al-Fitr occurs at the end of the month, with the New Moon in March.
In the Night Skies
Mercury is visible this month as an evening star, best seen about 6 P.M., and above Venus midmonth. On the 18th it is next to a thin crescent Moon, and Saturn is to their upper left. By the 28th, Mercury is much dimmer and very low in evening sky.
On the 20th, a vertical line of the planets appear in the western sky about 6 P.M., from top down, the Moon, Saturn, Mercury, and Venus. By the end of the month, Venus is higher in the western sky and quite bright.
Full Snow Moon February 1 Rises 5:02 P.M., NE Sets:7:20 A.M. NW
Last Quarter Moon February 9 Rises 1:05 A.M., SE Sets 10:21 A.M. SW
New Moon February 17 Rises 7:05 A.M., E Sets 5:58 P.M. W
First Quarter Moon February 24 Rises 10:10. A.M. NE Sets: 1:28 A.M. NW
Rising & Setting Times of Sun, Moon and Visible Planets: Cross Quarter Day, February 2, 2026
Known as Candlemas and Groundhog Day
Sunrise
Moon, waning Gibbous Rises 6:19 P.M. E Sets 7:29 A.M. W
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
