Update : November 15, 2022

Background

• February is the second month of the Gregorian Calendar.
  
• February is the shortest month.
  It has 28 days in a Common Year and 29 days in a Leap Year.

Burma/Myanmar

February 12

• Pyidaungsu Nay (Union Day) is a public holiday in the Union of Burma.
• It commemorates the signing of the Pinlong Sar Choke (Panglong Agreement) on February 12, 1947.
  
• I wrote a poem “Our Unity” with the pen name Maung Hlaing Phyo for publication in the Forward Magazine.
  I received K15 for the poem.
  The artist received K50 for the background illustration.

February 13

• Bogyoke Aung San was born on February 13, 1915.
• He was named Htain Lin.
• He changed the name to rhyme with that of Aung Than (his elder brother).
  Arzani U Ba Win is their eldest brother.
• Centennial celebrations for Bogyoke were held in 2015.

• February 13 is also as Khalay Myar Nay (Children’s Day).

Tabodwe Festival

The Full Moon of Tabodwe often falls in February.
Two celebrations are held.

• Htamane Pwe (Sticky Rice Festival)
• Ovada Partimauk Day (Exhortation)

USA

February 14

• Valentine’s Day (Chit Thu Myar Nay) is not a public holiday
• Many people send greeting cards and presents.

Presidents’ Day

• In the early days, there were two holidays.
  One to celebrate George Washington’s birthday.
  Another to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
• Later a single holiday in February to honor all US Presidents was proposed.
• Some states continue to celebrate the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln.

Canada

• “Family Day” (holiday) is observed on the 2nd Monday of February in Ontario.
• Family Day is observed on the 3rd Monday of February in British Columbia.

Lunar New Year

• Some countries (including China and Vietnam) observe the Lunar Year.
• The Lunar Calendar is based on the Chinese Zodiac consisting of Twelve signs staring with the Rat and ending with the Pig.
• Generally, the Lunar New Year occurs at the end of January or the beginning of February. The date is not fixed in the Gregorian Calendar.

Our Unity (Poem)

• My poem was published in WPD (Working People’s Daily)
• I composed the poem for “Union Day”
• Maung Hlaing Phyo is one of my pen names