Did you know that Presidents Day wasn’t always a celebration of all U.S. presidents? It originally started as a holiday to honor George Washington’s birthday on February 22. Over time, especially after the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971, the day was shifted to the third Monday in February and began recognizing Abraham Lincoln’s birthday as well, which is on February 12. Now, it’s widely seen as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents, though its official name remains Washington’s Birthday at the federal level! 

Did you know that Valentine’s Day has connections to an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia? This wild celebration, held on February 15, involved rituals to ward off evil spirits and promote fertility. Part of the festivities included a lottery where men and women would be paired together for the duration of the festival—or longer if the match worked out! Later, as Christianity spread, the day was repurposed and associated with St. Valentine, eventually evolving into the romantic holiday we celebrate today. ❤️

Did you know that Groundhog Day has its roots in an ancient European tradition called Candlemas Day? On this day, clergy would bless and distribute candles to symbolize how long winter would last. Germans expanded the tradition by involving a hedgehog or badger as a weather predictor. When German settlers arrived in Pennsylvania, they switched to the more common groundhog—and thus, Punxsutawney Phil became a star! 🦫