Fun Facts about Leap Year

Fun Facts about Leap Year

     Have you ever really thought about Leap year before and why we have it? Well according to History.com it was created to keep us in sync with the astronomical year or season of the year. Leap year comes every four years or at least most of the time. As we all know there are 365 days in a year but Leap year has 366 days. The extra day over a four year period is divided into fourths because it takes the earth 365.25 days to circle the sun, each forth makes up that extra day that is needed. It may not seem like a big deal but it does over time make a difference in our seasonal changes.

In history many calendars have even added a leap month to make up for lost time during the winter months. Their calendars were referred to as lunisolar which indicated the position of the moon as well as the earth in relationship to the sun. Because of a natural gap in time there were about eleven days that were measured by the lunar cycles and the earth’s orbit. It was required they add additional months which is referred to as interstitial months just to keep things straight but in the end it still did not keep the days in sync for the year.

     There are about 5 million people worldwide that were born on Leap Day. They are referred as leaplings. The odds for being born on this day is 1 to every 1461 person. How cool is that.

     In Ireland it was not proper for a lady to ask a gentleman for his hand but on the leap year they had that one day to do so. Thus calling it the Bachelor’s day.

Now for some more crazy Ideas, for most of us leap year may not be a problem but some folks feel it is a huge problem. According to an article written by Joshua Bote of USA today a couple of professors’ names Hanke and Henry of John Hopkins University feel their calendar would be a better fit for the work week. The week would always start on Monday and the first two months would have 30 days and every third month would have 31. This would be a perfect way to have a four day weekend when a holiday came around because all holidays except for the fourth of July and Thanksgiving would fall on that Monday. Thus it would not be breaking into midweek work time and production. By the end of the 364 day year there would be a free week that could be used as vacation time every 5 -6 years. This would be called the Xtr or weeklong month and because most folks take that time off to be with family anyways during this time around the winter holidays. Not sure how they will keep the Sunday schedule for those of us who still keep the Sabbath but I am sure it will be interesting. For those folks born on leap day will that mean they don’t exist?

     Believe it or not this calendar could actually take place soon as it has already been sent to congress for a vote on it. It would be called “the Trump Calendar”. Oh Gee, I think Happy Monday calendar sounds better. So there you have it fun facts that may not exist in the near future. All you ladies better get out there and ask that guy to marry you because it may be your last chance!

     Quote of the day:

"Every leap year I like to jump. It’s a good way to get my daily exercise in every four years." — Jarod Kintz

     Scripture of the day:

“Those knowing your name will trust in you; you will never abandon those seeking you, O Jehovah.”​—PS. 9:10.