Thursday, February 28, 2008
A cultural history of “Leap Day”
Tomorrow, February 29, is known throughout the world as “Leap Day”. In modern times the main significance of Leap Day is that people born on that day you to celebrate the birthday on their actual birthday. Yet over the course of history cultures have looked upon the day with some unique customs.
¶ 2/28/2008 
Tomorrow, February 29, is known throughout the world as “Leap Day”. In modern times the main significance of Leap Day is that people born on that day you to celebrate the birthday on their actual birthday. Yet over the course of history cultures have looked upon the day with some unique customs.- Roman culture: From 46 BC through 10 BC it was found that priests had mistakenly adding an extra day to the calendar every third year. Leap years were suspended until 8 AD.
- England and Wales: In 1256 a decree was issued making February 28 a 48 hour day for legal purposes during leap years. Oddly, this did not change until the European Union recognized February 29 as a unique day in the year 2000.
- Scotland, France, and Switzerland: In 1288 the Scottish Parliament determined that women could lawfully propose marriage on February 29. France and Switzerland had similar regulations.
- Roman culture: Although there was an early recognition of the need to have an extra day every fourth year, Roman religion added the hours for the calendar by making February 23 a 48 hour day every fourth year are off Terminus, the god who protected boundary makers.
- Christopher Columbus: The explorer knew a lunar eclipse will occur on the night of February 29, 1504. He used his knowledge to trick Americans to provide him with much needed supplies.
