A Leap Day primer
February 29, 2008 – 6:19 pmThis morning we are sitting at the table, drinking our coffee and eating our oatmeal, when Jay says, “hey! it’s Leap Day!”
To which I respond, “huh?”
“You know, LEAP DAY.” (Because saying it louder always helps with understanding.)
“What’s Leap Day?” I ask. In my defense, I wasn’t very far into my coffee.
Jay raises a disdainful eyebrow, “You know, February 29th?”
“Oh… right.”
Now I remember. Leap Day is that weird extra day that only comes around every…erm… so often.
I realize that I have a rather large hole in my brain where the FACTS ABOUT LEAP DAY should be, so I scurry to my computer to check in with my old pal Wikipedia and get back up to speed.
And, as usual, Wikipedia’s totally got my back. I am now the total and complete UNDISPUTED Leap Day expert, here to share my useless knowledge with the world wide wanderers of the blogosphere.
FYI, A Leap Year (also known as an intercalary year) contains one or more EXTRA DAYS so that the year stays in sync with the rotation of the planets, moons, stars, and other celestial bodies. For our calendar, the extra day falls in February in the form of February 29th, commonly referred to as LEAP DAY, this year also known as Friday. A year without an extra day in it is called a common year.
Useless Piece of Leap Day Trivia (UPOLDT) #1: A person born on Leap Day is called a leapling. (I’m guessing that makes the rest of us commoners?)
UPOLDT #2: This helpful and informative VISUAL AID should help make it all quite clear for you:
Got it? Good.
And now that we’ve covered the basics of Leap Yearology, it’s time for a Possibly USEFUL piece of Leap Day Trivia:
In the English-speaking world, it’s a long-standing tradition that women propose marriage to their men friends on Leap Day. A 1288 law by Queen Margaret of Scotland stipulates that if a man should decline such a proposal, FINES would be levied against him in the form of money or a silk gown.
(I’m not even making this up.)
So now’s the time to ring up Ashton Kutcher, I’m thinking. Worst case I’ll get a new silk gown out of it.
Leap on, good friends, Leap on!
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By Amy on Feb 29, 2008 | Reply
Very helpful. I had completely forgotten about it and now I not only remember I have that confusing chart to babble about at dinner tonight.
(My post today I nearly saved for Make Me Laugh Monday, but it’s so funny I couldn’t wait! Check it out.)
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By Rosie on Feb 29, 2008 | Reply
Well I knew about the women proposing bit but not the rest. Many men will be running for cover today I expect!
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By Queen of Shake-Shake on Feb 29, 2008 | Reply
Dang it! To think I could have had Daniel Craig instead.
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By Jenni on Feb 29, 2008 | Reply
Wow, I love this kind of useless knowledge. It makes me happy.
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By Mrs. Schmitty on Feb 29, 2008 | Reply
My cousin got married today. I think it’s so he doesn’t have to celebrate his anniversary quite as often.
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By MommyTime on Feb 29, 2008 | Reply
This is so very useful and full of great graphics that I hardly know what to say. I just have to figure out now who to hit up for my silk gown… (do you still get one if your proposal is a proposal for what would amount to bigamy? WHERE are the important bits of Leap Day knowledge when we need them?!?)
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By AFRo on Feb 29, 2008 | Reply
This is interesting because until right this second it had not occurred to me that it was leap day. Thankyouverymuch.
You know the whole “real banker” thing and living in the Dirty D… today was just “da first of da month.” Ugh.
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By Mrs. F on Mar 1, 2008 | Reply
I just got home from working at a wedding and all I could think was “Wow, he is one lucky husband, he only has to remember an anniversary every four years”.
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By Pendullum on Mar 1, 2008 | Reply
Wow! Who knew??
Perfect fodder for cocktail conversation…
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By Maureen on Mar 1, 2008 | Reply
Wow, that’s way more information than I could possibly remember four years from now…
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By Mamma on Mar 2, 2008 | Reply
Shoot! I missed my chance to propose. Oh wait! I’m married already. Well crap. What good is Lead Day for me then??
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By We are THAT Family on Mar 2, 2008 | Reply
I feel so informed. Thanks!
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