Why 28 days

Why does February only have 28 days? Why does February have 28 days when all the other months get 30 or 31? The answer is part superstition, part politics, and part astronomy. Learn More. Additional Resources for you to Explore. In the 8th century BCE, the Romans used the Calendar of Romulus , a month calendar that kicked the year off in March with the spring equinox and ended in December.

The second king of Rome, Numa Pompilius , decided to make the calendar more accurate by syncing it up with the actual lunar year —which is about days long. Numa tacked on two months—January and February—after December to account for the new days. In around 45 B. Martius: 31 days Aprilius: 30 days Maius: 31 days Junius: 30 days Quintilis: 31 days Sextilis: 30 days September: 30 days October: 31 days November: 30 days December: 30 days. Back then, winter was a nameless, monthless period that no one cared for much.

Planters and harvesters used the calendar as a timetable. King Numa Pompilius thought that was stupid. The months were added to the end of the calendar, making February the last month of the year.

But no Roman calendar would be complete without some good old-fashioned superstition mixed in! The Romans believed even numbers were unlucky, so Numa tried to make each month odd.

One month had to be an even number so poor February drew the unlucky straw with 28 days! Probably just because it was the last month of the year. Yes, you read that correct! In those days the start of the new year was March 1st, not January 1st like we have now. Much later, Julius Caesar rearranged the calendar one more time, finally giving it the days we know today and the rest is history! How did the days of the week get their names? Find out! Toggle navigation Menu.

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