Do you know there is anhonour society of leap year babies?
So, every four years, the month of February gets an extra day making our year 366 days long. Leap year or 29thFebruary might look like an insignificant date and a mere extra day on the calendar, but it is an important date that keeps our calendars and passing of seasons aligned. Leap years have always been associated with many folk tales and traditions. Let’s have a look at some of the fascinating facts about the leap year.
It is all science.
The earth revolves around the sun for 365 days, five hours, forty-eight minutes and forty-five seconds. But if we go by the Gregorian calendar, we have 365 days in total. And if we don’t add a day in February, every four years, we would lose almost six hours every year. You might say that is not a big deal, but if we don’t pay any attention to Leap year, then after a century, our calendar will lose about twenty-four days.
Caesar’s calendar.
Julius Caesar can be credited to introduce leap year in 46 B.C. But his was a unique way of accessing the leap years. According to him, any year that is divisible by four would be considered a leap year. But the only thing wrong with that rule is that it created a number of leap years.
The name for babies born in a leap year.
Children who are born in a leap year or, more specifically, are born on 29th February are called “Leaplings” or “Leapers”. Despite all the horror stories about how they can celebrate their birthday once in four years, Leaplings celebrate their birthday on 1st March of non-leap year.
Ladies, it is your day and year!
We don’t know whether leap year is considered auspicious or inauspicious, but ladies, if you want to tie down your man in the ropes of matrimony, well, leap year could be the year for you. It is said that St. Bridget once complained to St. Patrick that women should also have a day to propose, and St. Patrick obliged, and thus on the valentine day of a leap year, women can propose to the man she wants to marry.
Born and died as a leapling.
Interestingly, a British citizen by the name of James Wilson was born on 29th February 1812 and died on 29th February 1880.
So, do you know any leapling? Share these awesome facts with them.
