Leap Year by the Numbers

We have all said it many times, “I wish there were more hours in the day.” Well, 2012 is a Leap Year. This does not mean more hours in a day, but it does mean that we have 1 extra day in the year (or 24 extra hours that are all in the end of February.) Leap Years are necessary every four years in order to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth’s rotation around the sun. 

In honor of Leap Year, below are some interesting and surprising facts and figures about February 29^th

• 6- The number of hours we would lose from every calendar year if we did not have a Leap Year every four years.
• 365.242199- Actual number of days it takes the earth to revolve around the sun
• 24- The number of days that the calendar would be off in 100 years (2112) if we did not have Leap Years.
• 45 BCE- The year that Leap Year was first introduced by Julius Caesar. He is said to be the Father of Leap Year.
• 1 in 1,461- The chances of being a Leap Baby, born on February 29^th.
• 1 in 5- The proportion of engaged couples in Greece who avoid planning their wedding in a Leap Year. It is a common superstition in Greece that couples who marry in a Leap Year will have a lifetime of bad luck.
• About 4.8 million- The number of people in the world that were born on February 29^th. These ‘Leaplings’ as they are referred usually celebrate their birthdays on Feb. 28 or March 1 in common years.
• 8 years- The longest time ever between Leap Years. The last time this happened was between 1896 and 1904 and it won't happen again until 2096 to 2104.

What fun and exciting plans do you have for our extra 24 hours this year?