February 2

February 2 is the 33rd day of the year. 332 days remain until the end of the year (333 in leap years).

"History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake"

James Joyce

Born today

• James Joyce, 1882, Irish writer

• Ayn Rand, 1905, Russian-American writer and philosopher

Observances

• Groundhog Day

• Anniversary of Treaty of Tartu (Estonia)

• Constitution Day (Philippines)

• Day of Youth (Azerbaijan)

• Earliest day on which Shrove Monday can fall, while March 8 is the latest; celebrated on Monday before Ash Wednesday (Christianity), and its related observances:

  • Bun Day (Iceland)

  • Fastelavn (Denmark/Norway)

  • Nickanan Night (Cornwall)

  • Rosenmontag (Germany)

• Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple or Candlemas (Western Christianity), and its related observances:

  • A quarter day in the Christian liturgical calendar (due to Candlemas). (Scotland)

  • Celebration of Yemanja or Our Lady of Navigators (Candomblé)

  • Chandeleur (France)

  • Liichtmëssdag (Luxembourg)

  • Our Lady of the Candles (Filipino Catholics)

  • Virgin of Candelaria (Tenerife, Spain)

• Victory of the Battle of Stalingrad (Russia)

• World Wetlands Day

• National Crepe Day (US)

• World Play Your Ukulele Day

• National River Day (US)

• National Bubble Gum Day (US)

• Number Day (US)