The day that usually occurs every four years is called the leap day and is created by adding an extra day to February. This day is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure because the Earth does not orbit the Sun in precisely 365 days.

Leap Day, on February 29th, has been a day of traditions, folklore and superstitions ever since Leap Years were first introduced by Julius Caesar over 2000 years ago.

To fix his culture’s calendar, the Roman emperor created the Year of Confusion when he decided that the year 46 B.C. was going to be 445 days long instead of 365. He then made a 365.25-day year—a tiny bit longer than the 365.2422 solar year—that added a leap day every fourth year. Bet that confused every one!

To be a leap year, the year number must be divisible by four – except for end-of-century years, which must be divisible by 400. This means that the year 2000 was a leap year, although 1900 was not. 2024, 2028, 2032 and 2036 are all leap years.

Our everyday calendar has been regularly juggled through the centuries in an effort to make it more accurate and more useful. The time it takes for the earth to rotate is 365 ¼ days but the calendar year is 365 days, hence once every four years to balance this, we have a leap year and an extra day, February 29th.

Because such years are rarer than normal years, they have become lucky omens. Indeed the 29th February itself is an especially important day. It is said that anything started on this day is sure of success.

Certainly February 29th in the leap year of 1504 was a very successful one for Christopher Columbus.

The famous explorer had been marooned for several months on the small island of Jamaica. Though the island natives had initially offered food and provisions, Columbus’ arrogant and overbearing attitude had so annoyed the natives that they stopped this altogether.

Facing starvation, Columbus came up with an inspired plan. Consulting a shipboard almanac and finding that a lunar eclipse was due, he called together the native chiefs and announced to them that God would punish them if they did not supply his crew with food. And as an omen of God’s intent to punish them, there would be a sign in the sky: God would darken the Moon.

Right on cue, the lunar eclipse started. Columbus dramatically disappeared into his cabin as the natives began to panic and begged him to restore the Moon. After more than an hour, Columbus emerged from his cabin and announced that God was prepared to withdraw his punishment if the natives agreed to supply him and his crew with everything they needed. The native chiefs immediately agreed, and within minutes the Moon started emerging from shadow, leaving the natives in awe of Columbus’ power. Columbus continued to receive food and supplies until he was rescued in June 1504.

For women, February 29th can also be a very successful day, as once every four years on the 29th February they have the “right” to propose to a man.

The right of every women to propose on 29th February each leap year goes back hundreds of years when the leap year day had no recognition in English law (the day was ‘leapt over’ and ignored, hence the term ‘leap year’). It was decided that the day had no legal status, meaning that a break in tradition on this day was acceptable.

So on this day, women can take advantage of this anomaly and propose to the man they wish to marry.

In Scotland however, to ensure success they should also wear a red petticoat under their dress – and make sure that it is partly visible to the man when they propose.

In some places, leap day has been known as “Bachelors’ Day” for the same reason. A man was expected to pay a penalty, such as a gown or money, if he refused a marriage proposal from a woman on Leap Day.

In many European countries, especially in the upper classes of society, tradition dictates that any man who refuses a woman’s proposal on February 29 has to buy her 12 pairs of gloves. The intention is that the woman can wear the gloves to hide the embarrassment of not having an engagement ring. During the middle ages there were laws governing this tradition. Beyond that, refusing a leap day proposal also comes with several punishments elsewhere in the world.

In Greece, it’s considered bad luck to get married during a leap year. According to ancient superstition, couples that tie the knot during this time are more likely to get divorced. In Scotland, it used to be considered unlucky for someone to be born on  leap day, just as Friday 13^th  is considered an unlucky day by many.

Getting divorced during a leap year in Greece isn’t a good idea, either. Another ancient superstition states that couples who are separated during a leap year will never find happiness again in their lives!

People born on February 29th are all invited to join The Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies.

However, leap day babies, (leaplings, leapers, or leapsters) still get to celebrate their birthday in normal years. Some celebrate on February 28, others prefer March 1.

Leap day is also St Oswald’s Day, named after the archbishop of York who died on February 29th, 992. His memorial is celebrated on February 29 during leap years and on February 28 during normal years.

However you decide to enjoy your extra day this year. Hope you enjoy it!