I have some questions on the month of February.

In Latin the month of February was called februarius (menses). Originally, it was the month of expiation, and it contained the festival of purification named februara.

I am wondering:

What purification/s took place during the festival of februara?
Why did the Romans purify themselves?

I know the Romans made war in the month of Mars, and later on in a year they were farmers. The Romans were part-time soldiers and part-time farmers. So, maybe the Romans made February a month of purification/s, because it was usually were no general military tasks and little farm-work.

Norvegicus Lupus.