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We all know about the phenomenon of the leap year. After all, we've all seen the so-bad-it's-good Amy Adams rom-com, Leap Year, right? As a quick reminder, the Leap Year occurs every four years, when February gets an extra 29th day. But how many of us actually understand why we get this extra day?
Wondering about the astrological reason behind the leap year? Here's what you need to know.
The Year of the Dragon is said to bring good fortune…
What is the leap year?
A leap year occurs every four years when February gets an extra 29th day. On a leap year, the year has 366 rather than the usual 365 days.
Adding an extra day every four years doesn't quite make everything even out, so there are the occasional years where a leap year should fall, but doesn't — this is where it gets a little complicated: there is a rule that years that are divisible by 100 are not leap years unless they are also divisible by 400. In the year 2000, for instance, we did have a leap year (because 2000 can be evenly divided by both 100 and 400. However, years like 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years.
Why do we have a leap year?
A leap year occurs due to a slight imbalance in our Georgian calendar. Although we tend to say that the Earth moves around the Sun once a year, according to NASA, the orbit is actually six hours longer than 365 days. By adding an extra day every four years, the seasons stay roughly in line with the calendar days.
Connecting with your past self can be cathartic.
When is the next leap year?
This year, 2024, is a leap year and will feature a 29-day February.
The next leap years will be 2028, 2032, 2036 and 2040.
How are leap years celebrated?
Although most of us tend to treat February 29th like any other day, there are a few traditions associated with the leap year. Most notably, there is an Irish tradition in which women (rather than men) propose to their partners on leap day. The tradition provided the premise for the 2010 Leap Day. It is said that any man who rejects a woman's proposal on leap day owes her “several pairs of fine gloves.”
There is also a rare French satirical newspaper called La Bougie du Sapeur that prints only once every four years on leap day, which makes it the least frequently published paper.
Several communities around the world also hold leap year festivals and parades to celebrate the extra day.
What happens if you are born on a leap year?
If you're born on February 29th, does it mean you only have a birthday every four years? Kind of. Of course, you are still technically a year older each year — you age at the same speed as everyone else! Most “leaplings” choose to celebrate their birthday on February 28 or March 1 on the years without a leap day.
