We leap into March a day later every 4 years, and 2016 is one of those years. Yesterday was Leap Day, February 29th. But what is a Leap Year and Why do we need it? Brace yourself for a little school lesson and a lot of numbers. Ready? See, it’s a day that was added to our calendar year every fourth year in order to make up for the Earth’s rotation schedule around the Sun. The Earth actually takes 365.242 days to fully rotate around the Sun. That’s about 6 extra hours, and after 4 years, that’s 1 day. Voila – we get 1 more day to live our year and get our Earth back on track.
Possibly most uniquely connected to the Leap Day are those born on February 29th. For one thing, they’re very young as they only have a birthday every 4 years. These lucky Leaplings, the title they acquire, are members of a club of more than 10,000 fellow Leapers worldwide, and astrologers claim they have unusual talents. Perhaps the ones with the unusual talents are the two mothers in history that have each given birth to three Leap Day babies. Amazing! The first woman is from Norway who gave birth to her babies in the 1960s. More recently, a family from Utah had her babies in 2004, 2008, and 2012. This year they celebrate birthdays! She may have all 3 in one day, but at least she won’t have to celebrate again for 4 more years…ha!
A few Fun February Facts for Leap Years from Around the World:
Ireland – February 29th is a special day in which women can propose to men. Originally in Scotland, a law passed that if the man refused the proposal he had to pay a fine. Now it’s simply a humorous tradition.
Italy – Pope Paul III was born on a Leap Day in 1468. And Julius Caesar introduced the idea of the Leap Year, though his math had to be tweaked and perfected.
Jamaica – Jamaicans were not on board with this new plan until Christopher Columbus used the lunar eclipse to explain it and gain their recognition. He convinced the Jamaicans that God would paint the moon red if they didn’t comply.
United Kingdom – The Titanic began it’s maiden voyage and sank in a Leap Year.
Tasmania – James Milne Wilson was born on and also died on a Leap Day in the 1800s. What are the odds?
[2-29-2016]
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