What do you know about Leap Day?
Happy February 28th! See if this was a normal year, then today we would bid February goodbye and get ready to welcome March tomorrow. But not this year! Yes, my friends, it is Leap Year and tomorrow is Leap Day! February 29th, the first one we’ve had since 2020!
Of course, the whole reason Leap Year happens is because of the sun. The earth rotates around the sun and it takes a total of 365 and ¼ days. But since it’s kind of impossible to have a year with a fourth of a day, we just leave it at 365. But then what happens to the extra hours? That’s where February 29th comes in. If there are 4 consecutive years, the extra ¼ adds up to a full day. So, February 29th is the day that catches our calendar back up with the earth’s year.
Have you ever known someone born on February 29th? I have a friend who is supposed to turn 16 this year! But in reality, this is her 4th real birthday. Did you know that babies born on Leap Day are called “leaplings”? There are approximately 4.1 million people around the world who’s birthday is February 29th. The chances of someone being born on Leap day is 1 in 1,461!