Why Does February Have Only 28 Days?
Discover the fascinating history behind February's 28-day count and leap years in our brief explainer.
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February has 28 days (29 in leap years) because of its origins in the Roman calendar. The Roman king Numa Pompilius revised the calendar to align it with lunar cycles. He added January and February to the 10-month calendar, and February, being the last month, got fewer days. Julius Caesar later reformed the calendar, but February remained shorter.
FAQs & Answers
- Why does February have 29 days in leap years? February has 29 days during leap years to help synchronize the calendar with the Earth's orbit around the sun.
- Who created the Roman calendar? The Roman calendar was revised by King Numa Pompilius, who added the months of January and February.
- What is the history of the month names? The names of the months, including February, come from Latin origins, reflecting the Roman influence on the modern calendar.
- How often do leap years occur? Leap years occur every four years, with exceptions for years divisible by 100 but not by 400.