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Leap year: Hard to calculate, easy to marry

February 28, 2016

The solar year is longer than the calendar year by about six hours. The extra quarter of a day is accounted for by adding leap day to the calendar once every four years.

Our calendar, however, is still not exactly aligned with the solar year. To compensate, leap year is omitted every centennial year for three centuries with there being a normal leap day once every four centuries.

The year 2000 was the most recent centennial leap year and the next won’t be until 2400.

How to calculate leap years :

leap year edited-2Photo Credit: Nang Haing

 

According to “BBC News”, women proposing to men on leap day is an ancient European tradition. If a man refuses her hand, he is to pay a fine, which varies from country to country.

Superstitions/variations of the tradition:

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