Take That Leap…

Thirty days hath September, April, June and November;
All the rest have thirty-one
Save February, she alone, Hath eight days and a score;
Till leap year gives her one.

Every one may know what a leap year is. A leap year has 366 days with 29 days in February as opposed to the normal 28 days. Every four years February has 29 days instead of 28 because the planet makes 366 revolutions around the Sun, not 365. On January 1, 45 B.C. the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar introduced a calendar that was based on the notion that the astronomic year is approximately 365.25 days (or 365 days and 6 hours). Every four years there was a full extra day.   

 The following rules decide which years are leap years:

o     Every year divisible by 4 is a leap year.

o               But every year divisible by 100 is not a leap year

o               Unless the year is also divisible by 400, then it is still a leap year.

This means that year 1800, 1900, 2100, 2200, 2300 and 2500 are not leap years, while year 2000 and 2400 are leap years. Year 2000 was kind of special; as it is the first time the third rule was used in many parts of the world.

The longest time between two leap years is 8 years. Last time was between 1896 and 1904. The next time will be between 2096 and 2104.

A chance of being born on Leap Year Day is about 1 in 1461. People born on leap day, February 29, are called "leaplings" or "leapers." Putting it another way only 0.0684% of the world's population is leapers. It was once thought that leapling babies would inevitably prove sickly and "hard to raise," though no one remembers why. There might be several others but only one notable person was born on a leap day and died on another leap day 68 years later- Sir James Wilson, Premier of Tasmania.

There are certain facts and myths associated with the leap year tradition.

·     Leap Year has been the traditional time that women can propose marriage. In many of today's cultures, it is okay for a woman to propose marriage to a man. Society doesn't look down on such women. It is believed this tradition was started in 5th century Ireland when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait for so long for a man to propose. So on this day women can take advantage of this anomaly and propose to the man they wish to marry. In Scotland, however, to ensure success, they should also wear a red petticoat under their dress - and make sure that it is partly visible to the man when they propose. For those wishing to take advantage of this ancient tradition,  29th February is your day! A law once existed in Scotland forbidding a man to refuse a proposal made to him on February 29th. Punishment for such an offense was a large fine.

 ·  According to conventions bound in old Irish legend that any man who refuses a woman’s proposal during Leap Year, owes his scorned suitor compensation in kind – a silk gown, a kiss, or twelve pairs of gloves (presumably to hide the shame of a naked ring finger). 

 ·    According to English law, February 29th was ignored and had no legal status. So a crime on the day is no crime at all.

·  There is a Greek superstition that claims couples have bad luck if they marry during a leap year. Apparently one in five engaged couples in Greece will avoid planning their wedding during a leap year.

 ·   In Scotland it is thought unlucky to be born on a Leap Year"s Day.

 · According to astrologers, those born under the sign of Pisces on February 29 have unusual talents and personalities reflecting their special status.

 ·  It is widely believed that a leap year should not end in major purchases and distant trips. Even dying hair or changing hair-do is ill-advised. Speaking about changes of the workplace or starting up a business is also completely taboo.

 ·  Popular beliefs advise again getting divorced in a leap year as one may never find happiness again.

 ·  It is believed that one should not begin the construction of a new home or buy property in a leap year. Superstitions confirm that major problems will arise when building a home in a leap year and a newly bought apartment will result to complete unhappiness.

 ·  There is a superstition that this year the appearance of the first tooth of a newborn should not be celebrated. If so, the rest of its teeth will not grow properly and the child will suffer for the rest of its life.

 ·  It is believed that in a leap year Mother Nature shows unusually turbulent behavior.

 ·  People even came up with “leap year superstitions” for the elderly. Specifically, they should not celebrate their birthdays in the leap year and not buy decorations for funerals in order to not evoke disaster.

·   In a leap year the land is particularly unpredictable which is why when sowing seeds in the spring farmers must utter the words: “I am sowing in a leap year – so I’ll live a little more.” Plants like basil, garlic, four-leaf clover, fruits should not be planted in a leap year.

And so, while the Leap Year is a scientifically proven and necessary calendrical asset to the management of the seasonal and astronomical years, it has not only played a curious and dynamic role throughout history, but continues to hold sway upon many peoples and cultures worldwide.