A LEAP YEAR CONSISTS OF 366 DAYS, AS OPPOSED TO 365 DAYS.
History of Leap Year The ancient Egyptians first figured out the solar year and the man-made calendar year didn't always match up. That's because it actually takes the earth a little longer than a year to travel around the sun—365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds, to be exact. The Romans first designated February 29 as leap day, but a more precise formula (still in use today) was adopted in the 16th century when the Gregorian calendar finetuned the calculations to include a leap day in years only divisible by four - 2016, 2020, 2024, etc. Another stipulation ruled that no year divisible by 100 would have a leap year, except if it was divisible by 400. Thus, 1900 was not a leap year... but 2000 was! Go figure.
There’s a movie starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode that features all the traditions of Leap Year. 8
Black Hills Parent
It Happens Every Four Years
The next time February 29 will exist on our calendars will be in 2020, just like the U.S. Presidential elections and the Summer Olympic Games.
Leap Year Fun Facts
Those born on Leap Year are considered “leaplings,” who celebrate their birthdays on either February 28 or March 1 on a non-Leap Year.
February 29, 2016
THE CHANCES OF HAVING A LEAP YEAR BIRTHDAY ARE 1 IN 1,461. THERE ARE ABOUT 4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO HAVE BEEN BORN ON FEBRUARY 29.
Women are traditionally allowed, and even encouraged, to propose to men on a Leap Year. This tradition dates all the way back to 5th Century Ireland.