February, the month for romance and Valentines, is also An Affair to Remember Month, remembering the classic 1957 romantic tearjerker starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr.
An Affair to Remember opened in theaters in the summer of 1957. The saga of the two lovers, both already engaged to another and how they find, lose and then rediscover one another has been called one of the most beautiful romances ever filmed, by the American Film Institute.
Cary Grant would later admit, like many of the film’s fans, he would break into tears watching it.
Fun Fact: An Affair to Remember is actually a remake. Director Leo McCarey’s 1957 version is a scene-by-scene remake of the film Love Affair which he made in 1939. Critics generally agree the film is not an improvement on the original but a fin production in its own right.
The theme song is performed by Vic Damone over the opening credits and later in the film by Marni Nixon (as lip-synced by Deborah Kerr).
Failure drove McCarey to attempt a remake of Affair. His previous film, a Cold War melodrama called My Son John, had been a flop. The director needed a hit, so he turned to Love Affair for revamping into An Affair to Remember.
The film Sleepless in Seattle was patterned mainly after An Affair to Remember. In Sleepless, several scenes evoke the earlier movie on many occasions. There was even a pivotal moment involving the Empire State Building observation deck, much like there was in An Affair to Remember.
A 1994 remake (which used the original title Love Affair) starred Warren Beatty and featured Katherine Hepburn in her final screen appearance.
Like his character in the movie, Cary Grant met and fell in love with his wife, Actress Betsy Drak aboard the Queen Mary.
During the filming, Robert Wagner, then a young aspiring actor, came by to watch Cary Grant work. One day Grant told the young Wagner how excited he was that he had finally mastered breath control while performing. This impressed the young Wagner who said, “It was his sixty-second picture, and he was still honing his craft.”
HISTORY
An Affair to Remember Month was first observed in 1996 when it was published in Chases Calendar of events.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Rent or buy An Affair to Remember. Keep a tissue handy. Use #AnAffairToRememberMonth to share on social media.
February is the year’s quiet paradox—a shortest month that somehow contains multitudes. Sandwiched between the forward momentum of January and the budding promise of March, it carves its own unique space: a 28-day (or sometimes 29-day) interlude of introspection, romance, and unpredictable charm. It’s a month that feels both fleeting and deeply significant, a hushed corridor where winter’s grip is tested by the first, fragile whispers of spring. We are fascinated by February precisely because it defies simple definition, packing a profound punch into its compact frame.
The heartbeat of February is measured in its special days, which range from the deeply sentimental to the whimsically specific. It opens with the lighthearted introspection of Groundhog Day, a folkloric checkpoint in our seasonal journey. The mood then shifts dramatically toward the warmth of Valentine’s Day on the 14th, a global celebration of love in all its forms. Be sure to check out our Valentine’s Gifts, Playlist and Movie recommendations. We also include some Date night ideas you can use for your Valentine’s night. But the month also holds space for more solemn reflection during Black History Month, a dedicated time to honor the struggles, triumphs, and central contributions of Black communities. These observances, side-by-side, create a rich emotional tapestry unique to these four weeks.
On the sports front, February delivers a thrilling one-two punch. In the United States, the month is dominated by the spectacle of the Super Bowl, an event that transcends football to become a cultural holiday of its own, complete with iconic commercials and halftime shows. Shortly after, the world turns its eyes to the grace and grit of the Winter Olympics (when they fall in this month), where athletes conquer ice and snow in a stunning display of human perseverance. The energy of these events provides a vibrant, communal contrast to the month’s often chilly and solitary weather.
And that weather is a character all its own. In the Northern Hemisphere, February is the stubborn, often brutal, climax of winter—a time of “February Freeze” where snow piles high and skies stay steel-gray. Yet, within this, are precious “February Thaws,” teasing glimpses of what’s to come. The light noticeably changes, with days growing longer, offering a silent promise that the deep freeze won’t last forever. This push-and-pull between winter’s last stand and spring’s early stirrings makes every February day a small, quiet drama.
February is divided between two astrological signs. Those born from February 1st to 18th are Aquarius, the visionary Water Bearer, known for being progressive, intellectual, and humanitarian. Those born from February 19th to the 29th are Pisces, the empathetic Fish, characterized by their creativity, intuition, and compassionate nature. This month boasts an array of famous birthdays, including inventors and presidents like Thomas Edison (Feb 11) and Abraham Lincoln (Feb 12), civil rights icons like Rosa Parks (Feb 4), and renowned artists like Bob Marley (Feb 6) and Nina Simone (Feb 21). It also includes modern figures like actor Jennifer Aniston (Feb 11) and activist Greta Thunberg (Feb 3).
Finally, February claims its own with distinctive birthday symbols. Its flowers are the violet, signifying loyalty and faithfulness, and the primrose, a hopeful symbol of young love. Its birthstone is the striking amethyst, a gem associated with peace, courage, and clarity of mind. These symbols perfectly capture the essence of the month and those born within it: a blend of deep resilience (the enduring violet), heartfelt connection (the delicate primrose), and serene strength (the luminous amethyst). In the end, February fascinates because it is a microcosm of life itself—brief, beautiful, bittersweet, and brimming with unexpected contrasts waiting to be embraced.
Nearly the entire world recognizes New Year’s Day on January 1st. It’s also one of the most celebrated holidays of the year.
Celebrations will begin in the Pacific Ocean with Samoa celebrating the New Year before the rest of the world. The latest stroke of midnight will occur in the middle of the Pacific Ocean near Baker Island, which is halfway between Hawaii and Australia.
The new year has been celebrated for millennia. The earliest record of new year’s celebrations occurred during Babylonian times. However, January 1st wasn’t always the designated day. For example, the first new moon after the vernal equinox ushered in the new year at one time. These festivities occurred in Martius (March), the first month in the early Roman calendar, which only had ten months.
King Pompilius later added the months Januarius (named for Janus, the pagan god of gates, doors and beginnings) and Februarius bringing the calendar to 12 months. It was Julius Caesar who created the Julian calendar, which most closely resembles the Gregorian calendar a majority of the world follows today.
Celebrating the first day of the year in the appropriately named month of January, Romans made sacrifices to Janus, giving gifts and general revelry. With his two faces, the god Janus was able to look toward the past and forward to the future.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NewYearsDay
Traditions around the world:
Kiss at midnight the one person you hope to keep kissing the rest of the year.
Making noise, either in the form of fireworks, ringing bells, horns, blasting, or pistol shots are traditional around the world.
In Holland, they toast to the new year with spiced wine, wassail in England, or champagne in the United States.
Resolutions are not a modern tradition. The Babylonians made commitments to return borrowed objects and to pay old debts.
For me New Years Day is about renewal. I spend my time reflecting on how lucky I am and looking forward to the new adventures and growth. It’s time to update, plan, envision, and bring order to everthing I know about for the year to come.
I try to plan for those unexpected situations as well. Money, work, birthdays, and new surprises both good and bad. It’s easier to have better reactions if you plan ahead. Nothings fool proof but, how I deal with it helps set the tone for the experience.
Every year on December 31st, people around the world celebrate New Year’s Eve, the last day of the year. It’s a day to say “goodbye” to the old and “hello” to the new.
Also known as Old Year’s Day or Saint Sylvester’s Day, New Year’s Eve is one of the most exciting holidays of the year. Some countries, such as the Philippines and Latvia, celebrate New Year’s Eve as a public holiday. In Japan, it’s a government holiday. In other countries, many businesses let their employees off of work early so that they can partake in the many festivities.
There are many reasons this day is one of the biggest nights of the year. Not just because it’s a time of big parties and celebrations all around the world. New Year’s Eve can be a significant turning point in your life. It’s a time to reflect on the past year and all of the lessons you have learned. It can be a time you decide to start making better choices. If you have had a rough year, New Year’s Eve offers a feeling of relief. You can be thankful that the year is finally over
New Year’s is also a time to forgive past mistakes and form new habits. Many people make New Year’s resolutions. Although, only 8% of people actually accomplish them. Instead of making resolutions that you’re not going to keep anyway, it’s better to set three or four goals. Breaking down goals into actionable steps, and reviewing your progress daily helps to keep them. It’s also a good idea to find a friend or mentor that can hold you accountable.
NEW YEAR’S EVE HISTORY
The first New Year’s celebrations were thought to be held in ancient Mesopotamia. Because of the calendar at the time, these celebrations took place in March. Ringing in the New Year consisted of an 11-day festival. When the calendar switched from the lunar year to the solar year, the New Year began in January. This occurred in 46. B.C., when an astronomer convinced Julius Caesar to follow the solar year. It seems that since way back then, the coming New Year has been cause for celebration. Through the years, many New Year’s traditions have formed. Some of which include fireworks, parties, and singing “Auld Lang Syne.”
HOW TO OBSERVE #NewYearsEve
As we count down the last hours and seconds of the old year, it is an excellent time to look back at the year and reminisce with friends and family.
Many cities throughout the world go all-out to celebrate this exciting night. Fireworks, concerts, countdowns, and ball drops are usually among the many festivities. Some of the best cities to celebrate include New York City, Sydney, Bangkok, Dubai, Cape Town, London, and Las Vegas.
In Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, it is a tradition to eat 12 grapes during the countdown to midnight, symbolizing hopes for the new year. Around the world, eating anything in the form of a circle or ring symbolizes coming full circle and is considered good luck.
As a Christian observance, it is traditional to hold an evening Mass the night before a Holy Day. New Year’s Day in the Roman Catholic Church honors the Virgin Mary. In some countries, St. Sylvester, Pope of the Catholic Church from 314 to 335, is celebrated on New Year’s Eve.
Other ways to participate:
Host a party to ring in the New Year
Champagne toasts are a common tradition, so please drink responsibly
Set some achievable goals
If you can’t be at a celebration, watch one live on television
Have a game night with your family and see who lasts until midnight
Go for a midnight run
Attend a concert that goes past midnight
Go ice-skating at a nearby park or indoor rink
Kiss your spouse or significant other at midnight
Enjoy a quiet evening at home journaling
Think about what you can do to make next year the best one of your life
No matter what you decide to do to ring in the New Year, share it on social media with a picture and #NewYearsEve.
Explore the Shire on September 22nd during Hobbit Day. While there, celebrate the birthdays of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.
The novels The Hobbit and the trilogy The Lord of the Rings trilogy written by J.R.R. Tolkien, bring to life the world of Middle-Earth. According to the stories, Bilbo and Frodo were born during the Third Age in the years 2890 and 2968 respectively. Translated to Shire-reckoning, Bilbo was born in 1290 and Frodo in 1368.
I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. ~Bilbo Baggins ~ Lord of the Rings ~ J.R.R. Tolkien
Join celebrations or have a Hobbit Day party of your own. Reading the book or watching the movies are other ways to enjoy the day. Create a celebration worthy of a Hobbit.
Everyone should dress for the occasion. Even though most of the trilogy takes place in the future, Hobbits live for a very long time. Look at when Bilbo and Frodo were born. There’s a very medieval and mystical feel to the costumes.
Supply plenty of cakes, teas, wine, and ale.
Invite a large crowd. Hobbits come from big families.
Read from the trilogy or make a big speech.
Be merry and dance. Provide music, too.
Share your celebration using #HobbitDay to post on social media.
