A Leap Year is a year that contains one additional day in order to keep the calendar year in sync with the seasonal or astronomical year.
While the calendar assumes the Earth revolves around the sun every 365 days, it actually takes the Earth a bit longer - 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. If the calendar were not adjusted for the extra six hours by adding an extra day approximately every four years, the calendar would slowly shift and the seasons would no longer be aligned with the traditional months. Without Leap Days, the calendar would be off by 24 days within 100 years.
A select few have birthdays on Feb. 29. The chance of being born on Leap Day is 1 in 1,461. For centuries, astrologers believed that children born on Leap Day have unusual talents, unique personalities and even special powers.
So "Leapers" or "leaplings," the nickname attributed to those born on Leap Day, only celebrate their birthday every four years. The leaplings may celebrate their birthday on Feb. 28 or March 1 instead, but most states in the U.S. will only legally recognize the person as their next age on March 1 of the year. In some cultures Leap Day is the only day that women can ask men to marry them.
This past week we made it through this kink in the calendar without incident. Though I did hear of some computer networks that got clogged due to this quarterly extra day. Disney opened up their theme parks for 24 hours solid hours of fun on Leap Day.
I’m thinking that if there was ever a day for a world-wide holiday, Leap Day is it. Imagine a one day universal sabbath/party day. We only have 1,461 days now to make that happen!
Grace & Peace,
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