So for those of you that don’t know 2012 is a LEAP YEAR! And it’s also my 5th birthday! That’s right I'm a leap year baby or a leaper/leapling as we are commonly called. So I guess I’ll tell you more about what it entails. (Firstly to clear something up: Usually on, non-Leap-Year-years, I celebrate my birthday on the 28th of Feb.)In order to clear up some confusion let me explain how the leap year works: We all know that the year is made up of 365 days or Earth's revolutions around the sun. But did you know it that it in fact takes the Earth approximately 365.242199 days – or 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds – to circle once around the Sun. Hence once every four years to balance this, we have a leap year and an extra day, February 29th.Nearly every 4 years is a Leap Year in our modern Gregorian Calendar.
The day was called “Leap Day”, because about hundred years ago English law refused to accept it as an official day and just “leaped” over it. That particular day had no legal status in British law, so things such as court, contracts, etc, were not legally recognized of binding on that day. The “leaping” name also explains why frogs have always been associated with Leap Year’s Day.
According to an old Irish tradition on Leap Year’s day women were allowed certain “privileges” which “allowed” them to propose marriage to a man! If he refused, he was required to pay a fine in the form of either a silk dress, twelve gloves or a kiss.
So despite the fact that it is the middle of the week I plan to make sure that this birthday is special. After being woken up by some of my friends in res I managed to stay in bed the whole morning watching “Leap Year”. I know it’s cheesy, but I’m feeling in a romantic mood! Might just ask someone out today as well!
Fun Facts:
People born on February 29 are all invited to join The Honor society of Leap Year Day Babies.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, there are world record holders both of a family producing three consecutive generations born on February 29 and of the number of children born on February 29 in the same family.
According to astrologers, those born under the sign of Pisces on February 29 have unusual talents and personalities reflecting their special status.
“Thirty days hath September,
April, June and November;
All the rest have thirty-one
Save February, she alone
Hath eight days and a score
Til leap year gives her one day more.”
