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The Bellarion

The Bellarion

The Bellarion

Forever Young: Leap Year

Why have leap year?
The whole point of adding an extra day to February every four years was to align the human measurement of time closer with nature. People use to believe that messing with the counter would throw nature out of whack but, the Earth takes 365 days to revolve around the sun. The problem is every four years it takes Earth 365 days plus 6 hours, 9 minutes, and 9.7 seconds to revolve once. If we did not add an extra day every four years then in 100 years we would be almost 24 hours ahead of where we should be.

When so “leapers” celebrate?

People born on February 29 are called “leaplings” or “leapers”.  These people only get to celebrate 75% fewer real birthdays than the rest of everyone over the course of their lives. On the bright side between leap years they can choose if they want to celebrate their birthday a full day earlier or later then their real birthday.
 
Ladies privilege
In keeping with the theme of nature going whack on leap year this tradition was started in 5th century Ireland when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait for so long for a man to propose. St. Patrick said the impatient females could propose on this one day in February during the leap year and still be accepted in society.
 
Celebrities born on February 29
Alex Rocco, Actor (The Godfather) 1936
Dennis Farina , Actor (CBS) 1944
Tony Robbins, Inspirational Speaker (NBC Universal, Inc.) 1960
Chucky Brown, Basketball Player (Houston Rockets) 1968
Terrence Long, MLB player 1976
Chris Conley, Musician (of Saves the day) 1980
Taylor Twellman, Soccer player 1980
Cam Ward, NHL goalie 1984
Cullen Jones, Olympic Swimmer 1984

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