The following is taken from the Parabola Calendar Project.
Sunday 14
- Feast Day. Catholic – Feast day of Saint Valentine, celebrated in the Western world as Valentine’s Day.
- Chinese New Year. Chinese – Celebration for the new year on the Chinese lunar calendar, celebrated in areas with large ethnic Chinese populations.
Monday 15
- Lupercalia. Ancient Roman – Pastoral festival to purify the city of evil spirits and promote health and fertility.
- 1948 – Birth of cartoonist and author of Maus Art Spiegelman (pictured left).
Tuesday 16
- Shrove Tuesday. Christian – A day of penitence the day before the season of Lent begins.
- 1222 – Nichiren, monk and founder of Nichiren Buddhism, is born.
Wednesday 17
- Ash Wednesday. Christian – Honors the first day of Lent for Western Christian churches. Lent marks the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.
- Quirinalia. Ancient Roman – Festival in honor of the Roman god Quirinus.
- 1929 – Birth of American author and rabbi Chaim Potok.
Thursday 18
- 3102 BC – Lord Krishna is believed by Hare Krishnas and Hindus to have died on this day.
- 1486 – Birth of Hindu Bengali saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
- 1859 – Birth of Yiddish author Sholom Aleichem.
Friday 19
- 1473 – Birth of astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.
Saturday 20
- 1902 – Birth of American photographer Ansel Adams.