Here are some fun and fascinating Leap Year tidbits that you probably didn’t know about…
Enjoy!
-February 29th is simply an extra day added to our calendar every four years. The main reason? To make up for missing time during the Earth’s orbit around the sun. Our calendar is 365 days and the actual time it takes for the orbit is 365.2422 days. Hence, every four years an added day evens out the 365-day calendar.
-Our modern-day Leap Day also dates back to ancient Rome. February was chosen to have 28 days because the Romans held a month-long 28-day honoring of the dead.
-Feb 29th is the rarest birthday. Babies have only 1 in about 1,460 chances of being born on this day. And, by the way, February is the month with the least amount of actual births.
-Leap year babies are called “leapers” or “leaplings.”
-According to Guinness World Records, there is only one family verified for having three consecutive generations born on Feb 29th. Congratulations to the Keoghs family in Ireland.
-Feb 29th has roots of being the only day on which women were “allowed” to propose to men. Dang.
-Some country cultures consider Feb 29th and leap year to be unlucky. Italy considers leap year a “doom” year. Greek culture warns against planning weddings during leap years.
-Feb 29th is not a legal day. Many companies don’t recognize Lead Day as a “valid day,” celebrating employee birthdays on Feb 28th or March 1st . Also, many salaried employees aren’t paid for this day because it’s not calculated in wages.
-Julius Caeser started the first Leap Year around 46 B.C. His math was off and about 1500 years later, and the Egyptians followed with a solar calendar that spanned 365 days with Leap Year occurring every four years.
The next Leap Year is 2028.
If inspired please share.
Related Articles:
Just Breathe
Hanging Christmas Decorations Early Might Make You Happier
