Feb. 29: Leap Day

WHICH YEARS ARE LEAP YEARS?

In the Gregorian calendar, most years that can be divided evenly by 4 are leap years. Exception: Century years are not leap years unless they can be evenly divided by 400. (For example, 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years; 1600 and 2000 were.)

WHY ARE WE LEAPING?

The 365 days of the annual calendar are meant to match up with the solar year -- the time it takes the Earth to orbit the sun. Since an actual solar year is a little longer than 365 days (by 5 hours, 48 minutes, 46 seconds), we add a day every four years to make up the difference.

WHICH YEARS ARE LEAP YEARS?

In the Gregorian calendar, most years that can be divided evenly by 4 are leap years. Exception: Century years are not leap years unless they can be evenly divided by 400. (For example, 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years; 1600 and 2000 were.)

WHY ARE WE LEAPING?

The 365 days of the annual calendar are meant to match up with the solar year -- the time it takes the Earth to orbit the sun. Since an actual solar year is a little longer than 365 days (by 5 hours, 48 minutes, 46 seconds), we add a day every four years to make up the difference.

How the World Makes Up for Lost Time

Friday, February 29, marks leap day, a day that's added to the month of February almost every four years—that is, every leap year—to keep the modern calendar in line with the celestial cycles that frame it.

Leap year trivia

HOW cool would it be if you were born on Feb 29? You could be 80 and still tell everyone you’ve only celebrated 20 birthdays.

There is a lot of superstition and interesting tales that abound about leap years and the date itself. For instance, in Greece, people believe it is bad luck to get married in a leap year. On the other hand, in Ireland, women can propose to a man.

Superstitious Chinese believe that more accidents and mishaps occur during the leap month in the lunar calendar.