Leap Year adds another day to 2016, but why?
KNOXVILLE (WATE) – Every four years, some people finally get to celebrate their birthday, thanks to Leap Day, February 29. But why does Leap Year occur?
Leap Day was created to add 24 hours to the calendar in order to keep up with the Earth’s revolution around the Sun.
The “Leapers”
Having a birthday on Leap Day is rare. One in 1,461 people will be born on the special day, according to International Business Times (IBT). Leapers celebrate their birthday on February 28 or March 1 when it is not a leap year. However, states can have a say in the matter. Many states only recognize March 1 when it comes to non-leap years.
Unique Facts
•The day is also known as Sadie Hawkins Day. It is a folk tradition for being the only day women can propose to a man.
•It is not common for the day to be calculated into fixed annual or monthly incomes, according to IBT.
•A leap year will never occur in a year that ends with double zeros, unless they can be evenly divided by 400, according to Reuters.
•Some leapers throw a “Sweet 16” to celebrate their actual 64-year-old birthday.
•Leap day is in the same year as a U.S. presidential election.