[For Seniors] February Trivia: Useful Knowledge
According to the traditional calendar, it’s “Risshun,” the start of spring.
February is considered the beginning of spring, but in reality it’s still quite cold—a time when we can’t do without down jackets and heaters.
In some regions, it may even be snowing.
In this article, we’ve gathered various trivia related to February.
We introduce handy tips to keep warm through the cold winter, trivia about February events, and fun facts tied to various “Days of ○○.”
If you’re looking for February trivia to spark conversation, or quiz material about February that can be used for activities in senior care facilities, we hope you find this useful!
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For Seniors: February Trivia. Useful Knowledge (21–30)
The order of blankets that makes the bed warm
On winter nights, you might use a blanket, right? Older people may also feel cold at night.
In fact, the order in which you layer a down comforter and a blanket makes a difference in warmth.
The warmest way is to put the down comforter under the blanket.
The coldest arrangement is placing the blanket between your body and the comforter.
Your body heat warms the down, but a blanket in between blocks that heat transfer.
If you want even more warmth, try laying a blanket underneath you and covering yourself with the down comforter.
It will help retain the heat from your body from below as you sleep.
In honor of “Futon Day” on February 10, why not spark a conversation with this fun bit of trivia?
Amethyst, the birthstone of February
Birthstones assigned to each month from January to December.
Some older adults may have received birthstone accessories as birthday gifts.
The deep stories behind birthstones—their meanings and origins—are quite fascinating.
Birthstones have a history dating back about 3,500 years and are said to originate from the guardian stones associated with the twelve constellations of the time.
By the way, February’s birthstone is amethyst, which is said to carry calming meanings such as “a peaceful heart” and “sincerity.” How about using this as a conversation topic with older adults celebrating a February birthday?
[For Seniors] February Trivia: Useful Knowledge (31–40)
What is a leap year? And why is it February?
In February, there’s a “leap year” that adds one extra day once every four years.
Do you know why only February gets an extra day every four years? It takes the sun 365.24219 days to make one circuit around the Earth.
But since a year is counted as 365 days, a discrepancy arises, so leap years were introduced to correct it.
Our current calendar is based on the ancient Roman calendar, in which February was the end of the year.
Because it was convenient for making adjustments, the leap-year correction came to be done in February.
By the way, leap years often coincide with years when the Olympics are held, but that’s actually just a coincidence.
This is a topic that may help older adults get a better sense of dates as well.
Day of Television Broadcasting
Television is an indispensable tool for taking in information, and television broadcasting began on February 1, 1953.
Why not take the opportunity of Television Broadcasting Memorial Day on February 1—named after the start of TV broadcasting—to explore some trivia that deepens your understanding of television? Even just learning what was broadcast and what words were spoken helps you clearly see how television took its first steps.
It could also be interesting to focus on how it differs from today’s TV and how it has changed over its long history.
Trivia about retort-pouch curry
February 12 is Retort Curry Day.
It originates from the fact that Japan’s first retort curry was released on February 12, 1968.
Retort curry is a familiar food, so many older adults have probably eaten it at least once.
Trivia and quizzes about retort curry are perfect for February recreational activities.
It’s also nice to incorporate retort curry trivia into conversations with seniors.
Learning surprising facts about retort curry may help them enjoy gaining new knowledge.
Please feel free to make use of it.
Trivia about Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion)
Jishoji, better known as Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion), is commemorated on February 4, the date construction began in 1482.
This piece introduces trivia related to Ginkaku-ji to deepen understanding and interest in the temple while also exploring the history of the period.
Since it is often compared with Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), learning their differences can provide deeper insight into the circumstances of the time.
Why not try to imagine the scenery back then—what intentions guided its creation, and what activities took place inside?
What kind of day is Risshun (the first day of spring)?
The day after Setsubun marks the beginning of spring, called Risshun.
You might wonder why it’s considered spring when it’s still so cold.
That’s because Risshun is based on the Chinese concept of the 24 solar terms.
February is actually the coldest time of year in some regions.
If you ask, “When does spring start?” many people would say March.
While the calendar says it’s spring, it’s a bit out of sync with Japan’s actual seasons.
Here, we’re sharing trivia related to Risshun.
If you’re curious about foods to eat on Risshun or ways to boost your luck, be sure to check it out!
