The Croatian word for February is veljača and is derived from old Slavic roots relating to changing or shifting, often referring to the moody, unstable weather of the month. And certainly this month has lived up to its reputation with a heady mix of rain, wind, cold, fog, and then the occasional promisingly sunny day.
The Croatian word for January, siječanj, is most often associated with the verb "to cut". Traditionally, the name is thought to denote the time when wood was cut (seča drva) or to symbolise the harsh, "cutting" cold and frost - something that has plagued us since before Christmas.
