FEBRUARY
February appears in the mind of many people as a dark and cold month, it is not the case in Barcelona. Regarding temperatures we will start the month with temperatures like spring, 21º C (70ºF) in the midle of the day, then the temperatures will go back to normal for the time of the year, but this is not too bad either, average temperature in Barcelona in Winter is 9 C which is 50 F, in the midle of the day many days we have 14 C (58 F), we may have some rain too but in Barcelona does not rain much, about 80 rainy days a year. About light, I like February, days start getting longer and we have more hours of light, it is like nature is getting ready for a change. About the length of the day there is a funny saying like many we have in Spain that relates the Saint of the day with weather, crops or nature it goes “Por San Blas una hora y mas” which means in Saint Blaise day (3rd of February) days are one hour longer or more. So this brings a kind of nice perspective of longer days with more light and the idea that by the end of the month winter will be over, or almost.
Another interesting day in February is the 14th, Saint Valentine’s day or “Dia de los enamorados” as we say in Spain, now internationally known, so also recognized and celebrated in a cosmopolitan city as it is Barcelona, although to tell you the true for the purest Catalonians citizens (people from the region which capital is Barcelona), and for many people in Barcelona too, the best day to show your love to your dearest one is the day of Saint George (Sant Jordi in Catalan) which is the 23rd of April, that day men give roses to women and women give books to men, so the streets of all the cities and villages of Catalonia are full with roses and books.
Another intersting event going on in February is Carnival week, this year is between the 20th and 26th, being the main day, the day of the parades and the disguising, on Tuesday the 25th. Now most of the cities organize parades with floats, confeti and people disguised, Barcelona is not so popular for having a big parade, but it is Sitges, 30 kms (20 miles) south of the city, very easy going by train, many young people from Barcelona go there for the big party and then they come back by train on Wednesday morning.
