Leap Year

Leap years occur every four years. During leap years, an extra day is added to our calendar, extending the year to 366 days. Leap years do not just happen; instead, they serve a purpose. In fact, the concept of the leap day has been around for over 2000 years. Leap years keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth’s movement around the Sun allowing our seasons of summer, fall, winter, and spring to stay in sync with our calendar months. If we did not add February 29th to our calendars every four years, we would lose six hours from our calendar every year. After 100 years this would cause our calendars to be off by approximately 24 days. Therefore, leap years are very important to our calendar.
Leap day falls on February 29th during every leap year. There are many traditions and superstitions associated with this day. Old Irish tradition claims that leap day is the only day a woman can propose to a man because the traditional roles of men and women are balanced; in the same way that leap day balances our calendar. Greece considers Leap Day an unlucky day to marry, but in Scotland it is viewed as an unlucky day to give birth. China celebrates a Chinese Leap Year, which adds one month onto the regular thirteen month calendar every three years. The leap month’s placement in the Chinese calendar varies from year to year and is very unlike our calendar.
The chance of being born on Leap Day is one in 1500. Even with the most unlikely of chances, a faculty member at Pleasant Plains High School happens to be that one in fifteen hundred. Although he will be turning twenty-four years old, Mr. Shattuck will only be celebrating his sixth real birthday. This is due to his misfortune of being born on a day that only occurs once every four years. Make sure to wish Mr. Shattuck a Happy Birthday this February 29th or else you will have to wait another four years…

Emily Baietto
-The Cardinal