February may be the shortest month of the year, but it is not short on holidays! There are quite a few events and people to celebrate this month--some you know of and some you might not.

Of course, everyone is familiar with Groundhog Day. On the 2nd of February, that fuzzy creature emerges from his hole to let us know if we are going to get an early spring, or if we're stuck with six more weeks of the winter cold. The critter tends to choose the latter 90% of the time, but we still hold out hope every year we'll get a break from the bitter weather. For more fun information about Groundhog Day, check out this site.

In 2004, the 5th brings us the Chinese New Year, and the year of Monkey. There are great crafts and fun things you can learn about and do with your kids here.

Abraham Lincoln did amazing things during his life and term as President of the United States. We honor "Honest Abe" and his legacy by celebrating his February 12th birthday every year. To learn more about this great man, check out this site about Lincoln with lots of good information and links.

Ah, Amour...Everyone loves Valentine's Day! This February 14th, don't forget to let those you love most know just how much they mean to you! For great information and links to ideas for how to express all those happy feelings, check out our Valentine’s Day article about this special day.

On February 15th, we honor the birth of a woman who helped move our country forward by fighting for the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony did not live to see her hard work come to pass, but we recognize her dedication to helping women earn the right to vote in the United States. The home she lived in still stands and is a museum celebrating her life. You can read more about the Susan B. Anthony House at their site.

President’s Day falls on the 19th of the month and is a National holiday to remember and reflect on the achievements of the men who have served the office in the USA. WhiteHouseKids.gov is a great place for everyone, young and old, to find out about the holiday and the men we celebrate. To help teach your children more, check out this site for President's Day crafts and activities.
Three days after President's Day, we celebrate the birth of our very first president, George Washington. Known as the "Father of our Country,” George set the stage for the country the United States of America has become. You can learn even more about this great man at Holiday Insights' George Washington Birthday Page.

Last, but certainly not least, we have a Leap Year! February 29th only comes every four years, so our calendars will stay in sync with the Earth's movement around the sun. It happens on all years divisible by 4, but only century years (1800, 1900, 2000) divisible by 400 have Leap Days in them. For those lucky enough to have been born on this day, Leap Day Babies is a site dedicated to your unique birth date. They have tons of great links to fun information and stories about people just like you. And the Leap Year Project has even more fun for everyone to check out.

Those are just a few of the special days celebrated in February. For even more fun, check out these sites: February Holidays and Celebrations, KidzWorld.com - February Holidays and Bizarre February Holidays. We hope you have a wonderful and fun-filled February!

~Julie is a freelance writer, wife and Mother. She works from home as a Jr. Editor for a mystery shopping company and has recently relocated to Southern California with her husband and two sons. She is looking forward to having an extra day in February to catch up!