Let the Good Times Roll!
Even after the extra day for leap year, February is the shortest month. But that doesn’t stop these 29 days from being chock-full of things to celebrate. Especially this week.
Due to a quirk in the 2024 calendar, there’s a danger of overdosing on special occasions. I live in what’s often described as the most diverse city in the U.S., where owners of all kinds of businesses (bakers, costumers, bars, restaurants, and delivery services) are working overtime to cash in on money-making opportunities.
Happy Year of the Dragon!
Thriving Asian communities and hundreds, if not thousands of restaurants, are serving that continent’s exotic cuisines to the rest of us for Lunar New Year. The exact official date can vary from culture to culture, but highly enjoyable ceremonies abound, including special foods, fireworks, music, and the boisterous Lion Dance.
Sunday, Super Bowl LVIII
Unofficially dubbed the Taylor Swift Bowl, this celebration of grit and brawn was finally played. It was a good day for grocers and purveyors of fast food. Did you watch? Did your team win? And did you appreciate any of the over-priced commercials? The BMW/Christopher Walken spoof made me chuckle, and the Dunkin’ Donuts spot was amusing, too.
Next up: Leftovers Day
Not an official holiday, yesterday offered a little respite from the clash and clatter. It also gave us a chance to work through our leftover flamin’ hot chicken wings and Chinese moon cakes. And it was Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, a nice opportunity for quiet contemplation before the rowdiest hoopla of all descended upon us today.
Today: Cue the parades!
Cue the beads, the drinking, and the debauchery! Today is Mardi Gras! Fat Tuesday, when celebrants here and around the world are encouraged to laissez les bon tons roulez. So, let the good times roll! Wear the gaudy costumes and watch people behave badly. Catch some trinkets and cheap bling from a parade float. Eat, drink and be merry, and make sure to grab some King Cake while you can, for tomorrow is all ash and penitence. Unless you prefer to keep to fun going, because…
I ♥ U!
…tomorrow is Valentines Day! If, after indulging in all of the above, you’re still in the mood for rich food and booze (and your liver can take it), you can opt for a lovely restaurant in which to ply the object of your affection with oysters and champagne, and maybe some serious, not-so-cheap bling.
TGIWSBT!
Thank goodness it will soon be Thursday, which is National Singles Awareness Day, in which we’re encouraged to celebrate the joy of being alone. After the week we will have had by then, it feels like an appropriate antidote to the bacchanal we might have endured. A good day to tend to our spiritual side. Or, depending on how well your Valentine’s dinner went, perhaps to try a new dating service.
There’ve been countless Valentine’s dinners in my life, some more meaningful than others. But I’ve never attended a Super Bowl.
I have enjoyed local Lunar New Year celebrations (lots of noise and fun). I’ve been to a Mardi Gras ball and three years of parades in New Orleans: first, among the raucous street crowd (never again), second, from a private balcony on Bourbon Street, and another atop a float, tossing beads in my homecoming queen regalia.
Here’s hoping we all have many more special days ahead to celebrate. In the meantime, let’s try to make every day a celebration.
How about you? What’s your favorite day in February?
Gay Yellen is the author of the award-winning Samantha Newman Mysteries include The Body Business, The Body Next Door, and The Body in the News! Contact her at GayYellen.com.
Gay, terrific, educational post! Wow, you boiled February down in a proverbial nutshell. I’ll have to think on a favorite day in February. Valentines Day of course and Fat Tuesday. I’m making an appetizer for a Fat Tuesday party. I had no emotion over who won the super bowl. Both teams played their hearts out. I thought many of the commercials relied too heavily on AI. I loved the Christopher Walken commercial, the babies playing pickleball, and i love the Clydesdales Budweiser commercial. A classic.
Darn, I missed seeing the Clydesdales spot! (Must have been fixing popcorn.) It’s always so tasteful and heartfelt. Happy Fat Tuesday, Donnell!
You nailed February. Perhaps my favorite day – February 16 – my late father’s birthday. When I was a child, with my mother’s help and guidance, we always made that special.
Debra, you made me tear up—something about daddies and daughters always gets to me. I still miss my Dad, who’s been gone for more than forty years. Happy memories to you.
Me, too, Gay about tearing up. Debra, my dad passed on June 29. My condolences, friend.
What a fun post! The Super Bowl is my pick for favorite day in Feb. But my heart was divided – the 49rs are the team I grew up with in N. CA and the Chiefs are from my chosen home in Kansas City. All the Chiefs (and Taylor Swift) enthusiasm has been fun for us right down to fireworks in the neighborhood behind us when the big game ended. Tomorrow a million people will attend the Super Bowl parade in Kansas City. I’ll watch on TV from home. Thanks for all the shortest month highlights!
What a quandary, Barb! Although, rooting for both teams means you win either way. Congratulations!
What a wonderful post! I’ve always loved February for the Chinese New Year celebrations and sentiments at Valentine’s. My grandmother shared her birthday with Abraham Lincoln, and in honor of her, I chose Feb 12 as my wedding day when Bob and I tied the knot ten years ago. On February 8, my latest Nikki Garcia novel was published. More importantly for me, we celebrated on February 7 that it’s been a full year since my brain surgery and I’m doing great! February 2024 has given me plenty of reasons to celebrate!!
Really big milestones for you this month, Kathryn. Congratulations on your year of recovery. And it’s sweet to pick your grandmother’s birthday for your wedding date. With Valentines just 2 days later, you can make it a 3-day celebration!
Thanks, Gay. Three-day celebration it is!!!
Great post, Gay! There is a day in February that used to be my favorite, but after reaching a certain age, I prefer not to dwell on it. 😉
Hmmm, Lois’s favorite day just happens to be today.
I’m singing the tune, Lois. Happy Tuesday to you!
Wow! I never realized how chock-full of fun February is! My Mardi Gras memories from New Orleans are very similar to yours, but now we I live in a city with a two week celebration of Mardi Gras–all very spirited and exciting. May your Fat Tuesday be anything but fat.
And the same to you, Saralyn!