Leap Year

By Aubrey Andrade

Every four years, we experience a leap year meaning that February has an additional day, making it 29 days instead of the usual 28 days. Therefore, it takes approximately 365.24 days for the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun. To account for the discrepancy between the solar year and the calendar year, an additional day is added every four years to the calendar.

The last leap year was 2020. The next one is planned for 2024. However, there is an exception to this rule. If the year is divisible by 100, then it is not a leap year unless it is also divisible by 400. Since the Earth's rotation is not a perfect 365.25 days each year, this discrepancy has to be corrected to keep the calendar in sync with the astronomical year. For example, the period of 1600 and 2000 were leap years because they were divisible by 100 and 400, but the years 1700, 1800, and 1900 were not leap years because they were divisible by 100 but not by 400. The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used universally just as it’s a solar dating system. It's called after Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced a series of reforms to the Julian calendar in 1582. These reforms included a new method for calculating leap years, which has been active ever since. Leap year is "important" because it ensures that the calendar stays in sync with the astronomical year. Without leap years, our calendar would drift away from the seasons over time, which would have significant implications for agriculture, astronomy, and many other fields. The Julian calendar, established by Julius Caesar in 45 BCE, had a minor error in calculating leap years. Over time, the discrepancy between the calendar year and the actual solar year has increased, resulting in a gradual misalignment. By the time Pope Gregory XIII came into power, this discrepancy in the Julian calendar had accumulated to approximately ten days. These changes brought the calendar back in line with the solar year and have been used ever since.

Did you know Leap Year is a critical concept that helps us keep track of time? During common years, like 2023, we ignore an extra quarter day that the Earth takes to complete a single orbit. But that's not all - this gradual shift of the seasons can cause confusion and inconvenience, which is why we have leap years! The first modern leap year took place in 1752, and it was honestly a revolutionary moment. So that we ensure that our calendar stays accurate and up to date, imagine if we skipped leap years - it would seriously impact planting and harvesting! Without correction, the calendar year would be off by about one day after four years, which means that after 100 years, the calendar would be off by a whopping 25 days! Eventually, February would occur in the summer in the Northern Hemisphere. So, let us all celebrate Leap Year as the exciting and innovative concept it truly is - an essential part of keeping our planet in sync with the universe!

Here are some interesting facts about Leap Years. Individuals born on February 29th, which only occurs once every four years, are known as leapers or leaplings. They get to celebrate their birthday every four years, unlike the rest of us who celebrate our birthday every year. If it is not a leap year, individuals born on Leap Day celebrate their birthday on February 28th or March 1st, but if it is a leap year, they celebrate it on their actual birth date. I personally recently had the opportunity to interview Ahniya Bruton-Rogers, a Sophomore at Bowling Green High School who was born on Leap Day. When I asked how she celebrates her birthday, Ahniya mentioned that she celebrates it on March 1st if it's not a leap year, but if it is, she celebrates it on her actual birth date.

It's fascinating to think that leap-year babies are turning four this year while they will be turning sixteen. There are some advantages to having a leap-year birthday, as Ahniya pointed out. "Not many people have my birthday, it's special to me because it's rare," she said. However, there are some disadvantages to having a leap-day birthday, such as explaining to people that she's turning four and already in high school. "Nevertheless, my birthday is special to me, and I don't regret having a leap-day birthday," Ahniya added. 

However, some cultures believe that  February 29th is considered an unlucky day. For example, Scottish culture believes that anyone born on this day is luckless because it's called "Leaping," which is likely to lead to a year of "untold suffering." In general, Greeks, Scottish, and Germans consider the entire year to be unlucky. On the other hand, in Chinese culture, this year marks the Year of the Wood Dragon, which promises success and authority. There are some fascinating traditions associated with leap year. In Ireland, it is traditional for men to propose to women and ask them to dance. However, on Bachelor's Day, the roles are reversed, and women can propose to men instead. If a man refuses a woman's proposal, he's intended to buy her an expensive dress or coat. Similar traditions exist in other European countries. In Scotland, there is a tradition called "Unlucky in Love," which suggests that it is unlucky to be born on leap day, just as Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day by many people. In Greece, it's considered unlucky for couples to get married during a leap year, especially on Leap Day.

Did you know that two places in the world claim the title of "Leap Year Capital?” If you're interested in celebrating this special day grandly, you can head to Anthony, Texas, or Anthony, New Mexico. Both cities hold lavish multi-day celebrations every leap year. The city of Anthony, Texas. which calls itself the Leap Year Capital of the World, will host the Quadrennial Leap Year Festival from February 29 to March 2, 2024. In 1988, Anthony Texas was declared the Leap Year Capital during the second session of the 100th Congress. Mayor Anthony Turner believes that "The Leap Year Festival is a unique way for our region to come together and celebrate something that only happens once every four years." 

Did you know that in every leap year, January, April, and July commence on the same day? For instance, in 2024, all three months will start on a Monday. This fact can be observed on a calendar, which also reveals that in 2020, these months all began on a Wednesday. Some of the ancient calendars, like the Hebrew, Buddhist, and Chinese calendars, were lunisolar, meaning that their dates were based on the positions of the Moon and Earth about the Sun. For example, the early Roman calendar had ten months and an undefined period in winter. January and February referred to as Meredonius, were later added to account for the remaining time. Leap Year also has a rich history, including notable events such as the Battle of the Little Bighorn (1876), the sinking of the Titanic (1912), Benjamin Franklin's discovery that lightning is electricity (1752), and the discovery of gold in California (1848). 

Understanding the history of Leap Year is fascinating and valuable knowledge. The concept of Leap Year is noteworthy not just because of its association with the solar cycle but because of its substantial historical background and significant influence on our lives. Its relevance is predicted to increase in the future, which makes it a topic worth delving into.