All life on Earth is determined by its proximity to the Sun and the movement of the planet around it and around its own axis. A year is the time during which our planet flies around the Sun, and a day is the time of a complete revolution around its axis. It is, of course, very convenient for people to plan their affairs by week, to count a certain number of days in a month or year.
Nature is not a machine
But it turns out that during a full revolution around the Sun, the Earth does not rotate around its axis the full number of times. That is, there are not a full number of days in a year. Everyone knows that this happens 365 times and this corresponds to In fact, a little more: 365.25, that is, an extra 6 hours are accumulated in a year, and to be completely precise, an extra 5 hours, 48 minutes and 14 seconds.
Naturally, if this time is not taken into account, then the hours will add up to days, those to months, and after a few hundred years the difference between the generally accepted and astronomical calendar will be several months. This is completely unacceptable for social life: all holidays and memorable dates will be postponed.
Such difficulties were discovered quite a long time ago, even under one of the greatest of them - Gaius Julius Caesar.
Order of Caesar
Emperors in Ancient Rome were revered on a par with the gods, had unlimited power, so they simply remade the calendar with one order, and that’s all.
In Ancient Rome, the whole year was built on the basis of the celebration of Kalends, Nons and Ides (these were the names of the parts of the month). In this case, February was considered the last. Thus, there are 366 days in a leap year, with the extra days in the last month.
After all, it was quite logical to add a day in the last month of the year, in February. Moreover, interestingly, it was not the last day that was added, as it is now, but an additional day before the calendars of the month of March. Thus, February became two twenty-fourths. Leap years were appointed three years later, and the first of them happened during the life of Caesar Gaius Julius. After his death, the system went a little wrong because the priests made a mistake in their calculations, but over time correct calendar Leap years have been restored.
Nowadays, leap years are considered a little more complicated. And this is due to those few extra minutes that are obtained by introducing a full additional day every four years.
New calendar
The Gregorian calendar, according to which secular society currently lives, was introduced by Pope Gregory at the end of the 16th century. Reason why it was introduced new calendar, is that the previous timing was inaccurate. By adding a day every four years, the Roman ruler did not take into account that the official calendar would be ahead of the generally accepted calendar by 11 minutes and 46 seconds every four years.
At the time of the introduction of the new calendar, the inaccuracy of the Julian calendar was 10 days; over time it increased and is now 14 days. The difference increases every century by about a day. It is especially noticeable on the day of the summer and winter solstice. And since some holidays are counted from these dates, we noticed the difference.
The Gregorian leap year calendar is a little more complex than the Julian calendar.
Structure of the Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar takes into account the difference in the official and astronomical calendars of 5 hours, 48 minutes and 14 seconds, that is, every 100 years one leap year is canceled.
So how do you know which year is a leap year and which is not? Is there a system and algorithm for canceling an extra day? Or is it better to use
For convenience, such an algorithm has actually been introduced. In general, every fourth year is considered a leap year; for convenience, years divisible by four are used. Therefore, if you need to find out whether the year of your grandmother’s birth or the beginning of World War II was a leap year, you just need to find out whether this year is divisible by 4 or not. Thus, 1904 is a leap year, 1908 is also a leap year, but 1917 is not.
The leap year is canceled at the change of centuries, that is, in a year that is a multiple of 100. Thus, 1900 was not a leap year, because it is a multiple of 100, non-leap years are also 1800 and 1700. But an extra day does not accumulate in a century, but in about 123 years, that is, amendments need to be made again. How do you know which year is a leap year? If a year is a multiple of 100 and a multiple of 400, it is considered a leap year. That is, 2000 was a leap year, just like 1600.
The Gregorian calendar with such complex amendments is so accurate that there is extra time left, but we're talking about about seconds. Such seconds are also called leap seconds, so that it is immediately clear what we are talking about. There are two of them per year and they are added on June 30 and December 31 at 23:59:59. These two seconds equalize astronomical and universal time.
What is different about a leap year?
A leap year is one day longer than usual and has 366 days. Previously, back in Roman times, this year there were two days on February 24, but now, of course, the dates are counted differently. This year in February there is one more day than usual, that is 29.
But it is believed that years that have February 29th are unlucky. There is a belief that during leap years the mortality rate increases and various misfortunes occur.
Happy or unhappy?
If you look at the mortality chart in the USSR in the second half of the 20th century and in Russia, you will notice that the most high level noted in 2000. This can be explained by economic crises, low living standards and other problems. Yes, the year 2000 was a leap year (since it is divisible by 400), but is that a rule? 1996 is not a record-breaking year for mortality; in the year preceding it, 1995, the mortality rate was higher.
This figure reached its minimum level in almost half a century during non-leap years, but in 1986 the mortality rate was also low, much lower than, for example, in 1981.
There are many more examples that can be given, but it is already clear that mortality does not increase in “long” years.
If you look at fertility statistics, you also cannot find a clear relationship with the length of the year. The leap years of the 20th century did not confirm the theory of misfortune. Fertility rates both in Russia and in European countries falls evenly. A slight rise was observed only in 1987, and then the birth rate began to grow steadily after 2008.
Maybe a leap year determines some tension in politics or predetermines natural disasters or wars?
Among the dates of the start of hostilities, you can find only one leap year: 1812 - the war with Napoleon. For Russia it ended quite happily, but, of course, it was a serious test in itself. But neither the year of the revolution of 1905 nor 1917 were a leap year. The year the Second World War began (1939) was certainly the most miserable year for all of Europe, but it was not a leap year.
In leap years there were also explosions, but such events as Chernobyl disaster, the tragedy in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, volcanic eruptions and other disasters happened in the most ordinary years. The list of leap years in the 20th century does not at all coincide with the mournful list of misfortunes and disasters.
Causes of misfortune
Psychologists believe that all statements about the death of a leap year are nothing more than superstition. If it is confirmed, they talk about it. And if it is not confirmed, they simply forget about it. But the expectation of misfortune in itself can “attract” misfortune. It is not for nothing that exactly what he fears often happens to a person.
One of the saints said: “If you don’t believe in omens, they will not come true.” IN in this case This could not have come at a better time.
Leap year in Hebrew
The traditional Jewish calendar uses lunar months, which last 28 days. As a result, the calendar year according to this system lags behind the astronomical year by 11 days. An additional month of the year is regularly introduced for adjustment. The leap year in the traditional Jewish calendar consists of thirteen months.
Leap years happen more often for Jews: out of nineteen years, only twelve are ordinary, and another seven are leap years. That is, Jews have many more leap years than usual. But, of course, we are talking only about the traditional Jewish calendar, and not about the one according to which the modern state of Israel lives.
Leap year: when is next year
All our contemporaries will no longer face exceptions in counting leap years. The next year, which will not be a leap year, is expected only in 2100, this is hardly relevant for us. So the next leap year can be calculated very simply: the nearest year that is divisible by 4.
2012 was a leap year, 2016 will be a leap year too, 2020 and 2024, 2028 and 2032 will be leap years. It's quite easy to calculate. Of course, it is necessary to know this, but do not let this information frighten you. And in a leap year, wonderful and joyful events happen. For example, people born on February 29th are considered lucky and happy.
The leap year, in which an extra day is added to the end of February every four years, arose due to an inconsistency solar system and the Gregorian calendar. It takes exactly 365.2422 days for the Earth to complete its orbit around the Sun, but in the Gregorian calendar it takes 365 days. So leap seconds - and leap years - are added to keep our clocks (and calendars) in sync with the Earth and its seasons.
Why is there an extra day in February and not in another month?
All other months in the Julian calendar have 30 or 31 days, but February fell victim to the ego of the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus. During the time of his predecessor Julius Caesar, February had 30 days and the month named after him - July - 31, but in August there were only 29 days. When Caesar Augustus became emperor, he added two days to “his” month to make August as long as July. So February fell victim to August in the battle for extra days.
Julius Caesar vs Pope Gregory
The Roman calendar actually had 355 days, with an additional 22-day month every two years, until Julius Caesar became emperor in the 1st century and ordered the astronomer Sosigenes to develop a more advanced system. Sosigenes settled on 365 days a year, with an extra day every four years to accommodate additional hours, and so February 29th came to be. Because an Earth day is not exactly 365.25 days, Pope Gregory XIII's astronomers decided to remove three days every 400 years when they introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1582. The calculations have worked since then, but the system would have to be rethought after about 10,000 years.
Technically, a leap year does not occur every four years
The year 2000 was a leap year, but the years 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not. A leap year is every year that is divisible by four, except those years that are both divisible by 100 and not divisible by 400. The added century rule (versus a simple "every four years") was an additional correction to compensate for that the fact that an extra day every four years was too much of an adjustment.
What is a leap second?
Leap years are not directly related to leap seconds, but they were all introduced to keep our clocks and calendars in line with the Earth's revolutions. Leap seconds were added to align the Earth's rotation with atomic time. The leap second was added at the end of June last year, when just after midnight the dials read 11:59:60. Atomic time is constant, but the Earth's rotation gradually slows down by about two thousandths of a second per day. Thus, leap seconds are critical to ensure that the time we use does not deviate accurately from the time based on the Earth's rotation. If this is not checked, we will eventually end up with the clock showing noon at night. The leap second can sometimes cause problems for some networks that rely on precise timings. When the last leap second was added in 2012, Mozilla, Reddit, Foursquare, Yelp, LinkedIn, and StumbleUpon reported crashes, as well as problems with the Linux operating system and programs written in Java.
Other calendars need leap years too
The modern Iranian calendar is solar calendar with eight leap days added every 33 years. The Indian National Calendar and the Revised Bangladesh Calendar arrange their leap years so that the leap day is always close to 29 February Gregorian calendar.
What if you were born on February 29th?
The chance of being born on a leap year is 1 in 1461. People born on February 29th are called “leaplings” or “leapers” (from “leap year”). In non-leap years, many of them choose either February 28 or March 1 to celebrate their birthday, while purists stick to February 29. Some suggest that those born just after midnight on February 29 should celebrate their birthdays on February 28, while those born just before midnight on March 1 should celebrate their birthdays on that day. Those born around noon are less fortunate when it comes to choice. About 4.1 million people worldwide were born on February 29th.
Famous people born on Leap Day
The chances of your birthday falling on a leap day are extremely low - 1 in 1,461 to be exact - and there's quite a mixed bag famous people born on this day.
- Frederick - character from The Pirates of Penzance
- John Byrom - Romantic poet
- Pope Paul III - 16th century pontiff
- George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower – 19th century musician
- Ann Lee - Shaker sect leader
- Gioachino Rossini - Italian composer
- Charles Pritchard - British astronomer
- Sir Dave Brailsford - English cyclist and coach
- Tony Robbins - motivational speaker
- Alan Richardson - composer
- Darren Ambrose - English footballer
- Ja Rule (Jeffrey Atkins) - rapper
Photo: Sir Dave Brailsford changed the fortunes of British cycling
Why do women propose to men on leap years?
Leap year is also known as the time when women can propose to men.
According to one theory, this tradition dates back to the 5th century, when, according to legend, the Irish nun Saint Bridget complained to Saint Patrick that women had to wait too long for proposals from suitors. St. Patrick then allegedly gave women the opportunity to do it themselves every four years. Until the 19th century, no one thought that the tradition would become commonplace. There is also a theory that Margaret, Queen of Scots, was behind the legendary Scottish Law of 1288. The law gave unmarried women freedom to propose during a leap year, and the person who refused had to pay a fine. True, this story is dubious at best - after all, Queen Margaret was only eight years old when she died, and scholars have been unable to find a record of the law.
Others argue that the tradition of women proposing on this day dates back to a time when leap year day was not recognized by English law. According to this theory, if the day had no legal status, it was acceptable to break with the custom that proposing was a man's job. In Denmark, if a man declines an offer, he is required to give the woman 12 pairs of gloves, and in Finland, the penalty is fabric for the skirt.
Capital of Leap Year
The city of Antonia, which straddles the border between Texas and New Mexico in the United States, is the self-proclaimed leap year capital of the world. The four-day Leap Year Festival held there every leap year includes a huge birthday party for all the children born on that day.
According to a study conducted by Beefeater, 20% of women said they would like to propose to their partner. Despite this, almost a third of women said they would be concerned about their partner's reaction. However, more than half of men (59%) would like their girlfriends to get down on one knee. To that end, the chain has created a "Leap Year Package" in case you want to ask this question at one of their locations.
Research conducted by The Stag Company found similar results, with more than half of men saying they would accept a proposal from their girlfriend and the majority saying they would like their girlfriend to give them a ring. However, only 15% of women said they would consider proposing.
Proverbs about leap year
In Scotland, leap years are considered bad for livestock. This is why the Scots sometimes say: “There has never been a leap year.” good year for the sheep."
In Italy, where they say "anno bisesto, anno funesto" (meaning leap year, fatal year), there are warnings against planning special events such as weddings. What is the reason?
"Anno bisesto tutte le donne senza sesto", which means "Women are fickle during leap years."
Other facts about leap year
Summer Olympic Games always held on leap year
In Greece, couples often avoid getting married on a leap year, believing it brings bad luck.
Food for thought: If you work for a fixed monthly salary, you will have to work one more day than usual for the same salary.
As mentioned above, a year that is divisible by 100 but not by 400 is technically not a leap year. Therefore, 2000 was a leap year in the Gregorian calendar, just like 1600. But 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years. "There's a good reason for this," said Ian Stewart, professor emeritus of mathematics, Air Force. - “There are 365 days and a quarter in a year - but not exactly. If it was accurate, then you could say that it happens once every four years.” The decision of Pope Gregory and his astronomers should be rethought in about 10,000 years, says Professor Stewart
Leap years are also known as intercalary years
For most people who believe in omens, it is very important to know in advance all the most important information about a certain time period. In particular, this concerns the leap year of a particular year, since some warnings are associated with this situation. According to popular interpretation, it is during periods lasting not the usual 365, but 366 days, that one should be wary of various disasters, conflicts, wars and other misfortunes. This is probably why the question of whether 2019 is a leap year or not is considered so relevant.
Leap year concept
Anyone who truly believes in the destructive power of an extra day in February can breathe a sigh of relief - 2019 consists of a standard number of days (365).
For the first time, the very concept of a leap year appeared in the time of Julius Caesar. The great ruler ordered that the best astronomers of that time introduce the concept of the astronomical year and determine the number of days of which it consists. After some time, the result was ready - a year is formed from 365 days and 6 additional hours. It turns out that each subsequent period had to move forward 6 hours. To solve the problem of aligning time frames, it was decided to introduce the concept of a leap year - a period of time in which there will be 1 day more than in a standard year. Caesar liked this idea, and since then every fourth year has been considered “special.”
Since the last leap year was 2016, next time the same fate awaits 2020. On the one hand, there can be nothing wrong with an additional 24 hours a year, but on the other hand, it is impossible to imagine such a vast number of superstitions invented in empty space. What lies behind all these instructions and is it worth believing in them at all?
Signs about leap year
If we consider the situation from a logical point of view, the noted time period differs from the typical one by only 1 additional day. Among the people, such an outcome is highly regarded. important. Previously, February 29 was called Kasyan's day - an unlucky day when various troubles happen to a person.
According to popular beliefs, you can’t start something new during a leap year, because you still won’t achieve the desired result. Any novelty in a given year becomes the cause of a negative outcome and adversity. In fact, during the 366-day period, you should not plan a wedding, move, change jobs, or even have pets. It is recommended to postpone this entire list of tasks until next year. Also, at this hour you should not start construction, go on long trips and cut your hair during pregnancy until the birth itself.
In fact, everyone decides for themselves whether to believe in the listed warnings. You shouldn’t take all the signs too seriously either, otherwise you’ll have to “walk on tiptoe” every 4 years of your life. It’s just that earlier, when people could not explain the cause of some cataclysm or misfortune, the leap year became the main culprit of all troubles. In reality, disasters happen all the time, don't they?
Leap year wedding
A separate topic for discussion is the ban on marriage in a year consisting of 366 days. According to signs, such a union will 100% turn out to be unhappy and will definitely fall apart in the future. For this reason, most modern couples who decide to legalize their relationship delay this process until a more standard time period.
In fact, such a sign is too contradictory. In the old days, leap year was called the period of brides. According to ancient custom, girls had the opportunity to woo the guy they liked, and the most interesting thing is that he could not refuse. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the most inconspicuous brides chose as their grooms the most wealthy and prominent gentlemen, with whom they were usually secretly in love. It was precisely because of the couple’s inequality that such unions very soon fell apart, since there was no happiness at all. Therefore, the belief arose that getting married during a leap year is a bad idea.
The clergy conducting the wedding ceremony insist that the well-being of the couple depends entirely on the newlyweds themselves. And neither Which a leap year or a wedding at the wrong time cannot disturb the harmony between the future spouses, if such exists.
What should we expect from 2019?
Since the period being described is not a leap year, even those who firmly believe in the signs associated with this time can breathe a sigh of relief - the coming 12 months will pass in relative calm. According to astrologers, in 2019 it will be possible to settle many conflict situations, finally say goodbye to the crisis, and establish new contacts. This is connected with the mistress of the described period – the Yellow Pig, who is a symbol of friendliness, joy, tranquility and prudence.
In the love sphere, 2019 is considered an excellent period for starting a family, having a child, establishing a romantic connection or restoring friendships. Many lonely hearts will have a chance to find their destiny and find long-awaited happiness.
The stars indicate that 2019 is considered an ideal period to start your own business or advance in career ladder. The pig symbolizes self-confidence, determination and endless hope for the best. Those who demonstrate the noted qualities will be guaranteed good luck for the whole year. Many will be able to implement own potential and reach the intended peaks. True, it should be understood that sooner or later the time will come when you will have to answer for every decision, whatever it may be.
2019 will not be very different from 2018 or 2017, because it contains standard quantity days – 365. Simply put, in the period described, you can safely get married, get married, move to a new place of residence, travel, accept non-standard solutions and not be afraid of bad influences from outside. A small clarification - every year, whether it is a leap year or not, brings with it not only joy and carefreeness, but also life’s adversities and difficulties. To cope with any adversity, it is enough to always remain in a good mood and illuminate this world with a radiant smile.
Is 2019 a leap year or not? 2019 will not be a leap year. From year to year, the approach of the New Year causes excitement among superstitious people. Will the coming 2019 Year of the Pig be a leap year or a non-leap year?
The interest is based on folk signs and superstitions associated with the addition of an additional February 29th. One day, February 29, is added to the calendar every four years. The previous leap year was 2016. When is the next leap year? The next one will be in 2020, in four years.
Razgadamus considers it educational. How many days are there in a Leap Year? A leap year (or popularly called High Year) occurs every fourth year. Its duration is 366 days, one more than the duration of a non-leap year, thanks to extra day– February 29. In normal, non-leap years, February has 28 days.
What are leap years: calendar
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Table of past years until 2000
Table after 2000
How many days in 2019
You can get an answer to the question of how many days there will be in 2019, 365 or 366, by looking. If 2019 is not a leap year, therefore, the duration of 2019 will be 365 days.
2019 Leap year or not, causes concern among superstitious people and is of interest primarily to those people whose birthday falls on February 29. It turns out that those born on Leap Year on February 29th have to celebrate their birthday once every four years or postpone the celebration to March 1st.
A leap year differs from a regular year in duration; it is 1 day longer. But since ancient times, people have been afraid of the onset of such a four-year anniversary, which instills fear of impending misfortune.
Exist folk signs, according to which the arrival of a Leap Year means the onset of an unlucky period of time in the life of every person for four years.
Signs for Leap Year: what you can and cannot do
To believe in omens or not? February 29 is popularly called Kasyan's day (or Kasyanov's day), and it is considered unlucky for the birth of a child.
- It is not advisable to plan the birth of a baby, but if pregnancy occurs, then to the expectant mother you will have to refrain from cutting your hair until the birth.
- If a child was born in a Leap Year, it is necessary to speed up the baptismal ceremony so that the baby receives protection.
- You cannot start new businesses; any financial investment in a business is doomed to failure.
- People who believe in omens are advised not to sell or buy real estate or change their place of residence during Leap Year.
- According to signs, it is not recommended to have a pet.
- It is better to postpone the trip until better times.
- Very Bad sign planning a wedding on Leap Year. The sign says that a marriage concluded in an unhappy period of time will fall apart, the family will be haunted by misfortunes, illnesses, betrayal of spouses, and evil fate.
- It is not recommended to change jobs or start renovating the house.
Our ancestors adhered to the rule that an unlucky year for marriage follows immediately after Leap Year and the ban on marriage remains for another year. If you believe it, then after 2016 (it was a Leap Year), the next year is 2017 - the year of the widow, the year of the widower - 2018.
2019 is the year of the widow or widower
The years of the widow and widower are considered to be the first and second years after Leap Year, the previous one was 2016. If you believe the superstition, then 2017 is the year of the widow, the year of the widower is 2018, both dates are not suitable for a wedding. And married couples planning a wedding in 2019 will experience prosperity and well-being.
Our grandmothers did not get married, they were afraid of receiving a mystical curse on their family from the Higher Powers and being left a widow or being among the dead.
Astrologers consider folk signs to be prejudices and relics of the past; they recommend not to believe in such forecasts and not to follow them.
Priests advise following your heart, starting a family, getting married according to church canons and setting a wedding date for 2019 without any doubt. According to - the year of the Pig - an animal symbolizing calm and harmony.
The Widow Years (list): 2001; 2005; 2009; 2013; 2017; 2021; 2025; 2029; 2033; 2037; 2041; 2045; 2049; 2053; 2057; 2061; 2065.
Widower Years (list): 2002; 2006; 2010; 2014; 2018; 2022; 2026; 2030; 2034; 2038; 2042; 2046; 2050; 2054; 2058; 2062; 2066.
Is it possible to get married or get married in 2019? Can. Signs and superstitions are usually based on popular rumors, but in fact there is no confirmed data or real statistics about the years of a widow or widower.
How to determine Leap Year: calculation
- It is easier to determine whether a leap year is or not if the date of the previous one is known. The leap year repeats itself every four years.
- You can calculate the viscosity by knowing how many days there are in a year - 365 or 366.
- A leap year is divisible by 4 without a remainder; if it can be divided by 100 without a remainder, it is a non-leap year. But if it is divisible by 400 without a remainder, then it is a leap year.
What to expect from 2019
Due to the fact that 2019 will not be a leap year and will be led by the Yellow Earth Pig, astrologers give a peaceful forecast for all 365 days of 2019. The pig is a symbol of the future in 2019. This patient animal symbolizes well-being, peace, tranquility and wisdom.
The personal life of many lonely people will change in 2019, loneliness will end and there will be a happy opportunity to find a friend, meet a loved one. A favorable period is coming for the birth of children and the creation of a family union. Persistent and purposeful will be accompanied by.
Astrologers say that you will have a chance to become happy in your personal life, achieve success at work, move up the career ladder, or open your own business.
The pig, as you know, is one of the animals with enviable tenacity, and those who show perseverance, hard work, take responsibility in difficult circumstances, and are not afraid of difficulties will be able to achieve what they want.
Folk signs for 2019, beliefs and forecasts of various astrologers agree on one thing - the year of the Pig, the beginning, middle, end and all 365 days - a favorable and successful period. No matter how many days there are in 2019, every day you need to strive for your goal, think positively, not paying attention to bad omens.
Did you know that not every 4th year is a leap year? Why is a leap year considered unlucky, and what signs are associated with it?
What does leap year mean?
1. A leap year is a year in which there are 366 days, rather than the usual 365. An additional day in a leap year is added in February - February 29 (leap day).An extra day in a leap year is necessary because a full revolution around the Sun takes a little more than 365 days, or rather 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds.
People once followed a 355-day calendar with an additional 22-day month every two years. But in 45 BC. Julius Caesar, together with the astronomer Sosigenes, decided to simplify the situation, and the Julian 365-day calendar was developed, with an extra day every 4 years to compensate for the extra hours.
This day was added in February because it was once the last month in the Roman calendar.
2. This system was supplemented by Pope Gregory XIII (who introduced the Gregorian calendar), who coined the term "leap year" and declared that a year that is a multiple of 4 and a multiple of 400, but not a multiple of 100, is a leap year.
So, according to the Gregorian calendar, 2000 was a leap year, but 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not.
What are leap years in the 20th and 21st centuries?
1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028, 2032, 2036, 2040, 2044, 2048, 2052, 2056, 2060, 2064, 2068, 2072, 2076, 2080, 2084, 2088, 2092, 2096February 29 is leap day
3. February 29 is considered the only day when a woman can propose marriage to a man. This tradition began in 5th century Ireland when St. Brigid complained to St. Patrick that women had to wait too long for suitors to propose. Then he gave women one day in a leap year - the last day in the shortest month, so that the fair sex could propose to a man.
According to legend, Brigitte immediately knelt down and proposed to Patrick, but he refused, kissing her on the cheek and offering her a silk dress to soften her refusal.
4. According to another version, this tradition appeared in Scotland, when Queen Margaret, at the age of 5, announced in 1288 that a woman could propose to any man she liked on February 29.
She also made a rule that those who refused had to pay a fine in the form of a kiss, a silk dress, a pair of gloves or money. To warn suitors in advance, the woman was required to wear trousers or a red petticoat on the day of the proposal.
In Denmark, a man who refuses a woman's marriage proposal must provide her with 12 pairs of gloves, and in Finland - fabric for a skirt.
Leap year wedding
5. Every fifth couple in Greece avoids getting married on a leap year, as it is believed to bring bad luck. In Italy, it is believed that during a leap year a woman becomes unpredictable and there is no need to plan during this time. important events. So, according to the Italian proverb "Anno bisesto, anno funesto". (“A leap year is a doomed year”).
Born on February 29
6. The chances of being born on February 29th are 1 in 1461. Around the world, about 5 million people were born on Leap Day. 7. For many centuries, astrologers believed that children born on Leap Day have unusual talents, a unique personality and even special powers. Among the famous people born on February 29 are the poet Lord Byron, composer Gioachino Rossini, and actress Irina Kupchenko.
8. In Hong Kong, the official birthday for those born on February 29 is March 1 in normal years, while in New Zealand it is February 28. If you time it right, you can celebrate the longest birthday in the world while traveling from one country to another.
9. The town of Anthony in Texas, USA is the self-proclaimed “Leap Year Capital of the World.” A festival is held here every year, where those born on February 29 gather from all over the world.
10. Record the largest number generations born on Leap Day belong to the Keogh family.
Peter Anthony Keogh was born on February 29, 1940 in Ireland, his son Peter Eric was born on February 29, 1964 in the UK, and his granddaughter Bethany Wealth was born on February 29, 1996.
11. Karin Henriksen from Norway holds the world record for giving birth to the largest number of children on a leap day.
Her daughter Heidi was born on February 29, 1960, son Olav on February 29, 1964, and son Lief-Martin on February 29, 1968.
12. In the traditional Chinese, Jewish and ancient Indian calendars, not a leap day is added to the year, but a whole month. It is called the "intercalary month". It is believed that children born in a leap month are more difficult to raise. In addition, it is considered unlucky to start serious business during a leap year.
Leap year: signs and superstitions
Since ancient times, a leap year has always been considered difficult and bad for many undertakings. In popular beliefs, leap year is associated with Saint Kasyan, who was considered evil, envious, stingy, unmerciful and brought misfortune to people. According to legend, Kasyan was a bright angel to whom God trusted all plans and intentions. But then he went over to the side of the Devil, telling him that God intended to overthrow all satanic power from heaven.
For his betrayal, God punished Kasyan by ordering him to be beaten on the forehead with a hammer for three years, and in the fourth year to be released to earth, where he committed unkind deeds.
There are many signs associated with leap year:
Firstly, you can’t start anything on a leap year. This applies to important matters, business, major purchases, investments and construction.
It is also not recommended to change anything during a leap year, as this will not bring the desired result and can even be disastrous. During such a period, you should not plan to move to new house, job change, divorce or marriage.
Is it possible to get married on a leap year?
A leap year is considered extremely unlucky for marriage. Since ancient times, it was believed that a wedding played in a leap year would lead to an unhappy marriage, divorce, infidelity, widowhood, or the marriage itself would be short-lived. This superstition may be due to the fact that in a leap year, girls could woo anyone they liked young man, who could not refuse the offer. Often such marriages were forced, and therefore family life didn't ask.
However, you should treat these signs wisely and understand that everything depends on the spouses themselves and how they build the relationship. If you do plan a wedding, there are several ways to mitigate the “consequences”:
Brides are advised to wear long dress for a wedding, covering the knees to make the marriage last.
It is not recommended to give a wedding dress and other wedding accessories to anyone.
The ring should be worn on the hand, not the glove, since wearing a ring on the glove will cause the spouses to take the marriage lightly
To protect the family from troubles and misfortunes, a coin was placed in the shoes of the bride and groom.
The bride must keep the spoon from which the groom ate, and on the 3rd, 7th and 40th day after the wedding, the wife had to give her husband something to eat from this particular spoon.
What should you not do during a leap year?
· During a leap year, people do not carol at Christmas time, as it is believed that you can lose your happiness. Also, according to a sign, a caroler who dresses up as an animal or monster can take on the personality of an evil spirit. · Pregnant women should not cut their hair before giving birth, as the baby may be born unhealthy.
· During a leap year, you should not start building a bathhouse, which can lead to illness.
· During a leap year, it is not recommended to tell others about your plans and intentions, as luck may change.
· It is not recommended to sell or exchange animals and kittens should not be drowned, as this will lead to poverty.
· You cannot pick mushrooms, as it is believed that they all become poisonous.
· During a leap year, there is no need to celebrate the appearance of a child's first tooth. According to legend, if you invite guests, your teeth will be bad.
· You cannot change your job or apartment. According to the sign, the new place will turn out to be joyless and turbulent.
· If a child is born on a leap year, he must be baptized as quickly as possible, and godparents must be chosen among blood relatives.
· Elderly people should not buy funeral items in advance, as this may hasten death.
· You can’t get a divorce, because in the future you won’t be able to find your happiness.
