Leap years are years with 366 calendar days instead of the usual 365.
Leap years are years with 366 calendar days instead of the usual 365. Every four years, we add this extra day to the calendar as February 29. But the next thing that comes to mind is why is there this twist in the calendar? It’s all about synchronizing the Earth’s clock with the Sun. The Earth takes a little more than 365 days to complete its dance around the Sun. So, every four years, we add an extra day, called a leap day, to make sure our calendars match the sky.
February 29th may be a curious day, as it is a relatively rare event. There is some mystery surrounding this day and unusual traditions. Also, since this day comes every four years, it means that people born on February 29 miss out on a birthday. Even if “leapers” choose another date to ensure that they have an annual birthday, technically their age is younger than other people.
So, here’s what happens to someone born in a leap year
According to IndependentThe consequences of being born on a leap day can actually be a bit troublesome from a logistical standpoint as there are certain circumstances where people born on this day actually need to list their birth date as officially February 28th. Or March 1st.
For example, in the United Kingdom, the law states that when a child is born on a leap day, the official birthday is actually February 28, when it is a non-leap year. It is estimated that there are approximately 5 million people alive who were born on Leap Day. So while relatively rare, there are a lot of “Leaplings” out there.
While he will celebrate his birthday every year like most people, his birthday officially comes every four years.
Some of the famous or infamous jumpers include Spanish Premier Pedro Sánchez, American rap star Ja Rule and serial killer Aileen Wuornos.
Do other planets experience leap years like Earth does?
This phenomenon is not exclusive to Earth but applies to almost every planet in our solar system. Take Mars, for example; It has more leap years than regular years. There are 668 sols, or Martian days, in a year on Mars. However, Mars takes 668.6 sols to complete one revolution around the Sun. Therefore, sometimes it is necessary to add Sol to synchronize the calendar.
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