Q 01/05

February is named after Februa, a Roman ritual of what?

A) Harvest

B) Marriage

C) Warfare

D) Purification

Answer · why

D) Purification

The rite was held on February 15 in the old lunar calendar, at the full moon.

Q 02/05

Which Roman king is credited with adding January and February to the calendar?

A) Romulus

B) Numa Pompilius

C) Tarquin the Proud

D) Servius Tullius

Answer · why

B) Numa Pompilius

February stayed the last month of the Roman year until around 450 BC, which is why it took the short straw on days.

Q 03/05

Until about 450 BC, February was which month of the Roman calendar year?

A) Twelfth

B) First

C) Sixth

D) Tenth

Answer · why

A) Twelfth

The decemvirs moved it to second place; the Romans also sometimes cut it to 23 or 24 days and inserted an extra month after it.

Q 04/05

In the Southern Hemisphere, February is the last month of which meteorological season?

A) Winter

B) Autumn

C) Summer

D) Spring

Answer · why

C) Summer

It is the seasonal twin of August in the north, which is why Rio's Carnival and Australia's beach season fall in it.

Q 05/05

Which gemstone is February's birthstone?

A) Amethyst

B) Garnet

C) Aquamarine

D) Sapphire

Answer · why

A) Amethyst

Ancient Greeks carved drinking cups from it, believing the purple stone prevented drunkenness; its name means 'not intoxicated'.