The month of February is the shortest month of the year with 28 days, except every four years there is a leap day added. An extra day was added to the calendar more than two millennia ago, when the scientific advisers to Roman emperor Julius Caesar spotted that the years were not properly aligning with the seasons. So, in 45 B.C., Caesar decreed there would be an extra day every four years to compensate. Leap year is a way to adjust the calendar due to it taking the earth 365.24 days to rotate around the sun. So every four years we add an extra day to our calendar to keep the time and alignment of the seasons. The next leap year is in 2024. The month of February also includes American Heart Month, African-American History Month, Groundhog Day, Ash Wednesday, Mardi Gras, Presidents Day and the famous Valentines Day. Approximately 1 billion Valentines Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentines Day the second most popular card-sending holiday after Christmas. Valentine greetings can be traced back to the Middle Ages. During the middle of the 18th century it was common for friends and lovers to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By 1900, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvement in printing technology. In honor of Valentines Day, the Historic Burlington Antiques and Art Emporium, for the month of February, will continue its store-wide 20 percent off sale for items over $20 (20 percent off with cash or check, 15 percent off with credit card). Exceptions for the sale include jewelry, coins, and items marked firm or final sale. The Emporium sales display case will be filled with early valentines, candy dishes, vases (for the roses) and items relating to valentines. The Emporium offers many items for man caves and large quantities of jewelry. There are complimentary snacks to enhance the shopping experience. Open six days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the multi-dealer shop is closed on Monday, with extended hours on Thursday and Friday until 7 p.m. The Emporium is located at 424 High St., Burlington City, N.J. For further information, call 609-747-8333. Happy antiquing and happy Valentines Day.