This Thursday marks a leap day, the unique occurrence of February 29 that appears in our calendars almost every four years.
Approximately 5 million individuals worldwide, known as “leaplings,” will celebrate their birthdays on this rare date. For others, the day might be marked by a leap day wedding, engagement, or anniversary.
While for some, Thursday might seem like any other day, many are eager to make the most of it by indulging in activities they love, dedicating time to themselves, or engaging in acts of kindness towards others. The possibilities are endless.
But we can sense some of you might ask, Why do we have leap years?
The concept emerges from the fact that while our Gregorian calendar consists of 365 days, the Earth’s orbit around the sun takes a little longer than that. According to NASA, it’s precisely 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds. Despite rounding this down to the familiar 365 days, those extra hours don’t vanish into thin air.
Enter leap years, designed to bridge this gap. By adding an extra day to the calendar every four years, we synchronize our calendars with the natural rhythm of the Earth’s orbit. This adjustment prevents a gradual misalignment between our calendars and the seasons, which could disrupt crucial agricultural cycles tied to seasonal changes.
Without leap years, the consequences would be striking. CBS Minnesota highlights that after a century, our calendars would be off by 24 days, while in 700 years, summers in the Northern Hemisphere would commence in December.
NASA illustrates this phenomenon vividly: imagine if July, typically a warm summer month, were to shift into the cold winter months due to the accumulation of those missing hours over time.
In essence, leap years ensure that our calendars remain accurate reflections of Earth’s orbit, safeguarding the predictability of seasonal patterns crucial for various aspects of human life.
A few facts about leap year birthdays:
1. Babies born on the 29th of February are called “leaplings” or “leapers.”
Individuals born on Leap Day are affectionately referred to as “leaplings” or “leapers.” While some parents endearingly dub their children with terms like “cutie” or “sweetie pie,” those fortunate enough to enter the world on February 29th earn the endearing title of “leaper” or “leapling” (and isn’t that just adorable?).
2. Celebrating a leap year birthday is a personal choice.
For those born on February 29, deciding when to celebrate their birthday in non-leap years is a matter of personal choice. Many “leapers” opt for either February 28 or March 1. Some prefer to stick with February out of loyalty to their birth month, while others argue that celebrating on February 28 would mean commemorating a day before their actual existence, leading them to choose March 1 instead.
3. On this birthday, there are some famous people too!
Your February 29 baby shares their birthday with some famous personalities. Superman, the iconic superhero, was “born” on Leap Day, adding a touch of uniqueness to his character. Joining him are several real-life celebrities, including rapper Ja Rule, Mark Foster from Foster the People, renowned motivational speaker Tony Robbins, and soap opera star Antonio Sabato Jr.
4. It’s not precisely every four years.
In technical terms, it’s not precisely every four years. While Caesar’s idea had merit, his calculations were slightly flawed. Adding an extra day every four years proved to be an excessive correction. Consequently, there’s a leap year every year divisible by four. However, to meet the criteria, century years (those ending in 00) must also be divisible by 400. Thus, the year 2000 qualified as a leap year, but not the years 1700, 1800, and 1900.
5. Women have the right to propose.
Won’t you believe that legend has it that on February 29th, women have the green light to propose to men, a tradition with roots tracing back to various historical accounts. One such tale involves St. Bridget, who, as the story goes, voiced her frustration to St. Patrick about the extended wait women endured for a marriage proposal. In a gesture of understanding, St. Patrick purportedly designated this day as an opportunity for women to take the initiative and pop the question themselves, citing an article published by BBC.
6. There is a Leap Year Capital of the World.
Nestled between Anthony, Texas, and Anthony, New Mexico, lies the self-proclaimed Leap Year Capital of the World. This unique designation comes with an annual four-day leap year festival, featuring a grand celebration honoring all leap year babies with a colossal birthday bash. (Valid identification is required, of course.)
Even though it’s simply another Thursday, how you choose to spend this day is entirely in your hands. So go, get that extra syrup you always pass up!
