Leap year comes every four years when the year is divisible by four. So 2016 is a Leap year with 2020 being the next when an extra day is added on to the normal 365.
This extra day is determined by the length of time for the earth to travel around the sun each year which is an extra five hours, 45 minutes and 45 seconds. Therefore every four years an extra day is added on to make up the extra day, otherwise in 100 years the calendar would be out 24 days and our seasons would be all out of whack. In your 2016 calendar you will notice that the month of February has five Mondays while only four each for Tuesdays to Sundays.
It is thought that anyone born on February 29 has special talents. The person usually celebrates his or her birthday on March 1, but may also have a special celebration whenever the 29th occurs. Babies born on this day are known as “leapers” or “leaplings.”
There is also special trivia associated with the leap year day. One of the most common ones is that women can propose to men on that day. This came about when women complained they had to wait too long for the men to make up their minds. The tradition of this proposal dates back to 1288. If the man did not accept the proposal there was a fine associated with it such as a kiss, a silk dress or a pair of gloves to cover the hand that did not have a ring on it.
Also linked with this day, since 1937, is Sadie Hawkins Day from the comic strip Lil’ l Abner. When an unattractive woman could not find a husband, her father introduced a race for all the eligible men to see if his daughter could be successful in nabbing one. The men ran for all their worth, but if an unfortunate man got caught he was to marry the woman. What a way of getting someone to marry a desperate person!
Anyway, single and eligible men beware of February 29 and also Happy St. Valentine’s Day on the 14th.
