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ENTITY reports on why is there a leap day and the science behind why we gain an extra day every four years.

February 29th. That strange day that comes every four years. But why is there a Leap Day?

ENTITY reports on why is there a leap day and the science behind why we gain an extra day every four years.

Because Science Said So

No, we are not all crazy. There is logical science behind why we have a leap day every four years. As humans, we rely on a solar calendar. The seasons are dictated by where the sun is in its rotation around the earth.

“One year is measured as the time between the beginning of spring and the next time spring occurs – which is technically not  365 days (as we all tend to think), but 365 days, five hours, 48 minutes and 45 seconds,” according to Metro.

ENTITY reports on why is there a leap day and the science behind why we gain an extra day every four years.

via bureauofbetterment.com

So years ago, scientists decided to make it simple for us regular folk. Instead of having an extra five hours, 48 minutes and 45 seconds to deal with each year, we just add an extra day every four years to make up for that time. Thus February 29th is born every four years and we celebrate leap day.

Now you may be asking why we receive the extra day in February instead of, say, summer (because wouldn’t an extra day of summer be great?) There’s science to explain this, too.

ENTITY reports on why is there a leap day and the science behind why we gain an extra day every four years.

This dates back to the ancient romans. We can thank Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus for why the leap day goes in February. “Under his predecessor Julius Caesar, February had 30 days and the month named after him – July – had 31. August had only 29 days.”

“When Caesar Augustus became Emperor he added two days to ‘his’ month to make August the same as July,” states The Telegraph. Thus February was the only month lacking days, and is why it’s the lucky winner of the leap day.

Now what about those people who were born in a leap year, on leap day? Well, they can truly celebrate every four years, but what about the three years in between?

ENTITY reports on why is there a leap day and the science behind why we gain an extra day every four years.

via tenor.com

On the off years that it’s not a leap year, people can choose to celebrate their birthday either March 1st or some day in February, since it will be in the same birth-month. Most people will call you a child since your birthday only comes every four years according to them, but they are just being stupid.

Even technology can’t seem to figure out a leap day baby’s birthday. “Given that we as humans still aren’t sure when a leaper has a birthday, or if they get one at all, it’s probably no surprise that Facebook hasn’t got a solution either,” posts The DeBrief.

Movies have even started to premise themselves around the infamous day. In 2010, the movie “Leap Year” was released. “A woman who has an elaborate scheme to propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day, an Irish tradition which occurs every time the date February 29 rolls around, faces a major setback when bad weather threatens to derail her planned trip to Dublin,” writes IMDB.

ENTITY reports on why is there a leap day and the science behind why we gain an extra day every four years.

Scene from the movie Leap Year

Ultimately, leap day will always be mysterious and unique. For now, we can get ready to celebrate the next leap day, which will occur in 2020!

Edited by Kayla Caldwell
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