The reason we have leap years is because the Earth’s orbit around the Sun is not exactly 365 days.It takes about 365.2425 days for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun. This means that every year, our calendar is slightly behind the actual position of the Earth by about 6 hours. To correct this discrepancy, we add an extra day every four years, making the year 366 days long. This extra day is called a leap day, and it is added to the month of February, making it 29 days long instead of 28.
Contrary to popular belief, the earth doesn’t actually take 365 days to orbit around the sun but actually 365.2425 days. Source: iStock
But how do we know which year is a leap year? The rule is simple: if the year is divisible by 4, it is a leap year, unless it is also divisible by 100, in which case it is not, unless it is also divisible by 400, in which case it is. For example, 2024 is a leap year, because it is divisible by 4. But 2100 is not a leap year, because it is divisible by 100 and not by 400. However, 2000 was a leap year, because it is divisible by 400.
This rule was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, when he reformed the Julian calendar that was used since 45 BCE. The Julian calendar had a simpler rule: every year divisible by 4 is a leap year. However, this made the calendar too long, by about 11 minutes and 14 seconds every year. Over time, this error accumulated, and by 1582, the calendar was 10 days ahead of the actual position of the Earth3. To fix this, Pope Gregory XIII skipped 10 days in the calendar, and introduced the new rule for leap years, which is more accurate and closer to the actual length of the year.
Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1582 which we follow to this day. Source: iStock
But why do we care about the accuracy of the calendar? The main reason is to keep the seasons in sync with the calendar. The seasons are determined by the tilt of the Earth’s axis, which causes different parts of the Earth to receive different amounts of sunlight throughout the year. The equinoxes and solstices mark the start of the seasons, and they occur on specific dates in the calendar. However, if the calendar is not aligned with the Earth’s orbit, the seasons will gradually drift from their accustomed dates. For example, without leap years, after 100 years, the summer solstice would occur around June 21 instead of June 20, and after 700 years, it would occur around July 20. This would affect the timing of agricultural activities, festivals, holidays, and other events that depend on the seasons.
Therefore, leap years are essential for maintaining the harmony between our calendar and our planet. They help us keep track of time and seasons, and celebrate important events in our lives. The next leap year is 2028, and the next leap day is February 29, 2028. So, mark your calendars, and enjoy the extra day!
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