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From the February 2007 American Speaker issue:
Seasonal Sayings
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Friday, Feb. 2: Groundhog Day
Since 1887, this has been the day that the citizens of Punxsutawney, Pa., check groundhog Punxsutawney Phil’s shadow to predict an early spring or six more weeks of winter: no shadow means a long winter; a shadow means an early spring.
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Wednesday, Feb. 14: St. Valentine’s Day
“To love one who loves you, to admire one who admires you, in a word, to be the idol of one’s idol, is exceeding the limit of human joy; it is stealing the fire of heaven.”
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Monday, Feb. 19: Presidents Day
“The president is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able and disinterested service to the nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely essential that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly as necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right.”
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Wednesday, Feb. 21: Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is the seventh Wednesday before Easter and the first day of Lent. On this day it is customary for Roman Catholics to smear a small trace of ashes on their foreheads as a token of penitence.
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Thursday, Feb. 22: Washington’s Birthday
“The character and services of this gentleman [George Washington] are sufficient to put all of those men called kings to shame. While they are receiving from the sweat and labors of mankind a prodigality of pay to which neither their abilities nor their services can entitle them, he is rendering every service in his power, refusing every pecuniary reward. He accepted no pay as commander-in-chief; he accepts none as president of the United States.”
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