2nd February: Candlemas Day
This ancient festival marks the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox. In olden times, many people used to say that the Christmas season lasted for forty days -
Activities: Have a candle-
Take it further: Make a range of different candle holders, then sell them to raise money for people without lights.
Caution: be careful of the risk of fire.
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is 40 days before Easter. The period of Lent (the 40 days before Easter) is traditionally a time of quiet and fasting, so this was the last day to have some fun and luxury foods for some time. The traditional Shrove Tuesday meal varies depending on you location; in Scotland, broth; Herefordshire had doughnuts, Frying Pan Pudding was popular in Lincolnshire and Pea Soup in Cornwall, but the most usual was pancakes.
Activities: Make pancakes. Try different fillings and vote for your favourite. Have pancake races, or see who can do the most tosses in a minute.
Take it further: Have variations such as cooking over a wood fire, or a tin can and a candle. Make different shapes or add food colouring. Agree on something to give up for Lent, and stick to it.
Shrove Tuesday also sees the start of the world’s oldest, largest, longest and maddest football game in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. It is played over two days and involves thousands of players. The goals are three miles apart and there are only a few rules.
Activity: Try a mass football game. Invite friends and family along to make up the numbers. Add your own variations like 3 or 4 balls or goals, obstacles or challenges.
Skipping is also a traditional Shrove Tuesday game. In Scarborough, everyone goes to the promenade to skip. Long ropes are stretched across the road and there maybe be ten or more people skipping on one rope. The origins of this custom is not known but skipping was once a magical game, associated with the sowing and sprouting of seeds.
Activities: Have a skipping evening. Try group skipping, forwards, backwards, fancy & French skipping (elastics) See who can skip for the longest or most number in a minute.
Take it further: Have a sponsored skip to raise money for your unit or a charity.
Badge Links: Agility Interest Badge
14th February -
This was originally thought to be the day on which birds chose their mates. There are many traditions and tales associated with romance activities on Valentines day including:
The first man an unmarried woman saw on 14th February would be her future husband
If the names of all a girl's suitors were written on paper and wrapped in clay and the clay put into water, the piece that rose to the surface first would contain the name of her husband-
Activities: Make a valentines card for a person you love, this could be a friend, family member, or even your favourite pet! Let them know what it is you like about them. Play the wool game, where you sit in a circle, with a ball of wool. Hold one end, say something nice about someone else, and throw the ball to them. Then they throw it on, until everybody has a part of the web. Or play other games based around friendship and support.
Ash Wednesday (the day after Shrove Tuesday)
A playground tradition was to carry a piece of twig from an ash tree in your pocket or down your sock. Anyone who didn't have an ash twig had his or her feet trodden on.
Activities: Do a tree identification quiz, or go out and identify trees in your local park or woodlands.
22nd February -
This is the day when members of the Scout and Guide movements remember their founders Lord and Lady Robert Baden-
Activities: Attend a local Thinking Day celebration, or organise your own. Think about guides and scout around the world. Learn about what these groups are called, and any differences between you and them.
Other ideas for February
Leap Year Day – 29th February (occurs once every four years)
Chinese New Year (between 21 January and 20th February)
Birth Flower: Violet/Primrose
Birth Stone: Amethyst
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