Talk — February

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Video Broadcast on February 1, 2021

Background

• 2nd month of Gregorian Calendar
• Shortest month
• 28 days in a Common Year and 29 days in a Leap Year

Dark Moment in 2021

• Many high ranking Government officials were detained by the military in the wee hours of February 1, 2021.

Union Day in Myanmar

• Pyidaungsu Nay (Union Day) is a public holiday in the Union of Burma.
• Commemorates the signing of the Pinlong Sar Choke (Panglong Agreement) on February 12, 1947.
• Wrote a poem “Our Unity” with the pen name Maung Hlaing Phyo for publication in Working People’s Daily (WPD).

Bogyoke Aung San’s Birthday

• Bogyoke was born on February 13, 1915
• Zartar name was Htain Lin.
• Formal name is Aung San, rhymes with Aung Than (his elder brother). Arzani U Ba Win is their eldest brother.
• Centennial celebrations for Bogyoke were held in 2015.

Children’s Day in Myanmar

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

Tabodwe Festival

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

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

Events in 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.

Events in 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 (e.g China and Vietnam) observe the Lunar Year.
• Lunar Calendar is based on the Chinese Zodiac consisting of Twelve signs starting with the Rat and ending with the Pig.
• Lunar New Year occurs at the end of January or the beginning of February (e.g. in 2021). The date is not fixed in the Gregorian Calendar.

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