Happy Leap Day!
It is Leap Day!
For you, it may just be another day, but in some cultures, it is a day worth anticipating. Why is February the month that gets an extra day and why do we need an extra day added to the calendar anyways? There is a long, scientific reason for February 29th’s addition, but I will explain it simply.
As we know it, it takes 365 days for the Earth to orbit the Sun but more specifically, it takes 365.242190 days for the Earth to orbit the Sun. Therefore, the extra time that is not accounted for throughout the year is balanced out every four years on a leap year when the extra time is added up. Another interesting fact that I discovered was that a leap year does not occur EVERY 4 years. To determine if a year is NOT a leap year and is to be skipped, the year number has to be divisible by 100, and not divisible by 400. The next leap year to be skipped will be 2100 (Craddock, 2020).
Originated in Ireland: Women will propose to men!
A long-standing societal tradition is the classic proposal where the “man” proposes to a woman. On Leap Day, those in Ireland and the rest of Europe may expect their partners who identify as a woman to propose to them! (You may have seen the movie Leap Year).If a man rejects a proposal there may be a “consequence” that comes along with that rejection in some countries…
Scotland: back in the year 1288, you would have to pay a fine of 1 euro or provide payment with another kind of gift (usually silk dresses). This rule was created by the 5-year-old queen at the time- Queen Margaret.
Denmark: The man has to give the rejected woman 12 pairs of gloves to avoid bad luck.
Finland: Men have to provide women with a good amount of fabric.
Germany: Young men plant a small birch tree that they decorate with ribbons in the garden of their “crush.” On leap years, WOMEN do this tradition instead!
Texas: A 4-day festival that people all over the world look forward to and travel to Texas for. Live music, food, and other entertainment can be found here.
Italy (Reggio Emilia Province): They believe that whales only give birth during leap years.
Taiwan: Leap year is an unlucky year for citizens here because it is believed that the elderly are more likely to pass away. As a result, married daughters have to return to their parents and present them with pig trotter noodles, a delicacy that is believed to promote longevity and good health overall! (Saha, 2024)