According to some of those who are in the know, contributors to BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day receive specific instructions not to begin with “today is the feast of…” As February has sped by remarkably fast despite the extra twenty four hours, I have felt more than usually aware of how fortunate it is that I don’t expect ever to broadcast in that forum. I would not think such an introduction offputting, as I have often found that noting the feasts of the saints and other special days on the Christian calendar and exploring new ways to mark them can provide inspiration. Not only that, but I am also fascinated to discover reasons why people attach significance to a particular date. Having begun this month with Candlemas, which almost coincides with the Japanese bean-throwing festival of setsubun and is closely followed by the feast of the saints and martyrs of Japan on February 5, I’ve been lucky enough to learn near the end that February 27 is both a day to commemorate the publication of the world’s first magazine for women, The Ladies’ Mercury, in London in 1653 and (!) International Polar Bear Day.
February 29 is not, to my knowledge, the feast day of any of the saints. However, I have noticed a few people greeting each other today with “happy leap day.” Apparently, in Japan it is also “garlic day,” not because garlic is for consumption at four-yearly intervals, but because the numbers in the date (2,2,9 from 2/29) can be read with the same pronunciation as the word for garlic.
madeleinehayakawa 