Lept

Once every 4 Years, today occurs.  Last year, today would have been March 1... but this year today is tomorrow.

The Earth orbits the moon every 365.25 days (actually: 365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes, and 16 seconds).  So, in order to create a truly annual calendar, an adjustment was required. 

But Why February 29?

As part of  Julian reform, the day following the Terminalia (February 23) was doubled, forming the "bis sextum"—literally 'double sixth." 

Since February 24 was 'the sixth day before the Kalends of March' using Roman inclusive counting (March 1 was the 'first day'). Although exceptions exist, the first day of the bis sextum (February 24) was usually regarded as the intercalated or "bissextile" day since the third century. 

February 29 came to be regarded as the leap day when the Roman system of numbering days was replaced by sequential numbering in the late Middle Ages.

If you followed that garble, good.  if not, it basically says "Romans had some weird social laws that carried over to more modern times."

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Leap Day Traditions

• (US) National Rare Disease Day
• (UK/IRL) It is the only acceptable day for a woman to propose marriage to a man.  Historically, In upper-class societies, if the man declines, he must then purchase 12 pairs of gloves for the woman... to hide the woman's embarrassment of not having an engagement ring.
• (GREECE) It is considered bad luck to wed on Leap Day

Notable Births

• 1468 – Pope Paul III, Pope (d. 1549)
• 1916 – Dinah Shore, Entertainer  (d. 1994)
• 1944 – Dennis Farina, Actor
• 1960 – Richard Ramirez, Serial killer
• 1960 – Tony Robbins, Motivational speaker
• 1976 – Ja Rule, Rapper/Actor
• 1976 – Terrence Long, MLB Player
• 1984 – Cam Ward, NHL Player
• 1984 – Mark Foster,  Foster the People
• 1992 – Caitlin EJ Meyer, Actress

Notable Leap Day Events

• 1504 – Christopher Columbus uses his knowledge of a lunar eclipse that night to convince Native Americans to provide him with supplies.
  
• 1712 – February 29 is followed by February 30 in Sweden, in a move to abolish the Swedish calendar for a return to the Old style.
• 1796 – The Jay Treaty between the United States and Great Britain comes into force, facilitating ten years of peaceful trade between the two nations.
• 1916 – Child labor: In South Carolina, the minimum working age for factory, mill, and mine workers is raised from twelve to fourteen years old.
• 1940 – Finland initiates Winter War peace negotiations
• 1944 – World War II: The Admiralty Islands are invaded in Operation Brewer led by American General Douglas MacArthur.
• 1960 – Playboy Club is opened in Chicago
• 1972 – Hank Aaron becomes the first player in the history of Major League Baseball to sign a $200,000 contract.
• 1980 – Gordie Howe of the then Hartford Whalers makes NHL history as he scores his 800th goal.
• 1992 – First day of Bosnia and Herzegovina independence referendum.
• 1996 – Faucett Flight 251 crashes in the Andes, killing 123 people.
• 2004 – Jean-Bertrand Aristide is removed as President of Haiti following a coup.

Enjoy Leap Day Everyone!!!  Real Life is For March!

-Kevin Aherne