Posted by This year 2024 is a leap year. That means we have an extra day in February. The Earth takes exactly 365 days, five hours, 48 minutes and 45 seconds to circle the sun. The occasional February 29 ensures we don’t lose six hours every year. Without leap day, our calendar would be off by about 24 days every 100 years.
Julius Caesar introduced the first calendar leap year in 46 B. C. That is a long time observing leap years.
If you happen to be born on February 29, you have to wait every four years to celebrate your birthday. Leap year babies are called “leapers” or “leaplings.” More than 4 million people around the world are leaplings.
Some cultures consider February 29 an unlucky day. But why consider it unlucky when you have an extra day to spend. I guess the question is what are you going to do with your extra 1,440 minutes? How about take a leap, of course!
Happy Leap Day!
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(*my leaping photo was taken somewhere in Arizona last year, which is not a leap year)