First, the background as to why we have a Leap Day. Although most years of the modern calendar have 365 days, a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours. Therefore, every four years, during which an extra 24 hours have accumulated, one extra day is added to keep the count coordinated with the sun's apparent position. It is, however, slightly inaccurate to calculate an additional 6 hours each year. A better approximation is that the Earth makes a complete revolution around the sun in 365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes, and 16 seconds (uh oh, getting specific here!). To compensate for the difference, an end-of-century year is not a leap year unless it is also exactly divisible by 400. This means that the years 1600 and 2000 were leap years, as will be 2400 and 2800, but the years 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not, nor will 2100, 2200 and 2300.
Well, that’s pretty wicked! This means I’ll get a leap year once every 4 years, without break, for the entirety of my life. Unless I somehow make it to 117 years old, I guess.
There are a few traditions that go along with this very rare date as well. The biggest of these is the practice of women proposing to men on the 29th. According to an old Irish legend, St. Bridget struck a deal with St. Patrick (whaaaaaaaaaaaat!) to allow women to propose to men – and not just the other way around – every 4 years. This is believed to have been introduced to balance the traditional roles of men and women in a similar way to how Leap Day balances the calendar. In some places, Leap Day has been known as “Bachelors’ Day” for the same reason. A man was expected to pay a penalty, such as a gown or money, if he refused a marriage proposal from a woman on Leap Day. Now, this isn’t nearly as big a deal today as it was back in the day…while I suspect it’s still mostly men that do the proposing, it isn’t ONLY men that do it anymore. However, this is a funny little tradition, and I figured it worth mentioning. So, ladies, if there’s a guy you love who is dragging his feet on popping the question…today’s the day to force the issue on him! :-P
Some other tidbits: People born on February 29 are all invited to join The Honor society of Leap Year Day Babies. In Scotland, it used to be considered unlucky for someone to be born on Leap Day, just like Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day by many. In Greece it’s said to be unlucky for couples to marry during a Leap Year, and especially on Leap Day. So, I guess, ladies can propose today, but should probably then schedule their weddings for the following calendar year.
The most fascinating part of Leap Day, at least to me, are those who were born on Leap Day. A person who is born on February 29 may be called a "leapling" or a "leap year baby". In non-leap years, some leaplings celebrate their birthday on either February 28 or March 1, while others only observe birthdays on the authentic calendar date (the birthday purists). For legal purposes, their legal birthdays depend on how different laws count time intervals. In England and Wales, the legal birthday of a leapling is March 1 in common years. The same applies in Hong Kong as well. In Taiwan and in New Zealand, the legal birthday of a leapling is February 28 in common years.
There has only been one notable person known to have both been born and died on February 29: Sir James Wilson, Premier of Tasmania. However, plenty of notable people have been born on this day…
1468 – Pope Paul III
1812 – Sir James Wilson, Premier of Tasmania
1916 – Dinah Shore, American singer and actress
1920 – Arthur Franz, American actor
1920 – James Mitchell, American actor
1924 – Al Rosen, American baseball player
1936 – Henri Richard, Canadian ice hockey player
1952 – Al Autry, American baseball player
1956 – J. Randy Taraborrelli, American celebrity journalist
1960 – Tony Robbins, American motivational speaker
1968 – Wendi Peters, British actress
1972 – Saul Williams, American rapper, poet, and actor
1976 – Ja Rule, American rapper and actor
1976 – Terrence Long, American baseball player
1980 – Simon Gagné, Canadian ice hockey player
1984 – Cam Ward, Canadian ice hockey player
Just to name a few.
Personally, I think February 29th should be a glorious holiday! No one should have to work or go to school. It should just be a big party! I mean, think about it…it’s an extra day in the year…why should our companies get a free day of work out of us??? And since it only happens once every four years, we could really build it up into something to look forward to.
If I ever become President, I’m going to push for this one to happen.
Anyways, Happy Leap Day!
1 comment:
Pat for President 2012! (it's not like we have a better GOP canidate at the moment...)
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