Leap Year Facts: Is This Time Really Associated With Troubles?

What connects the sinking of the Titanic, the fall of the Tunguska meteorite, the earthquake in Armenia and the coronavirus pandemic? All these world-shaking events took place during a leap year. Superstitious people believe that in such a year you should never travel, get married, have children, get a home or even pets.

Where did the confidence come from that the most terrible disasters and cataclysms happen every four years? What do England, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden only allow women to do on February 29th? And which city is considered the Leap Year Capital of the World? Talks about this program “Unknown History” with Boris Ryzhov on REN TV.

Birthday every four years

This family from Norway has become famous throughout the world. Peter Keogh, his son Eric Keogh and granddaughter Bethany were born on the same date – February 29. Such incredible coincidences have never been recorded in the world.

“They even calculated the probability that three generations of a family could be born on February 29. And this number was 3 billion 110 million to one,” – said journalist and publicist Alexey Begeshev.

Those born on February 29 can save a lot of money on holiday feasts – after all, they celebrate their birthday only once every four years. But they have the opportunity to do it on a grand scale. In the Texas city of Anthony, the self-proclaimed Leap Year Capital of the World, festivals are held where every February 29th people have fun and honor birthday people.

“I would go to such a festival! I am a cheerful person, and my birthday is always an occasion for jokes about how old I really am according to the calendar. I often get children’s cards and toys. For example, this year I turn twenty, so that I look forward to congratulations on your fifth anniversary,” – Savannah Phillips, born on February 29, admitted.

A marriage proposal you can’t refuse

Birthday people are waiting for congratulations, and young Irish people are waiting for marriage proposals. It was in this country that a tradition arose in the 5th century: on February 29, a girl can propose to her chosen one, and he has no right to refuse. According to legend, Saint Brigid once complained to Saint Patrick about the bitter lot of old maids, and he responded by inviting the ladies to take the initiative themselves. The tradition has taken root in some European countries – Denmark, Sweden, England and Scotland.

“If a man refused this offer, he had to pay a considerable fine at that time. He had to kiss the rejected woman, give her a silk shirt or a pair of leather gloves. Therefore, on February 29, men in England, Scotland, and Ireland tried not to leave the house at all and hide from girls” – said journalist and publicist Alexey Begeshev.

“No matter what Kasyan looks at, everything withers”

Some people do not leave home on February 29 for another reason. There is a belief that on this day there is a high risk of getting into trouble. In Rus’ it was believed that on February 29, Saint Kasyan, who guards the gates of hell, takes a day off, and evil spirits break free.

“Another legend says that on this day you should not go out before sunrise, because you might catch Kasyan’s eyes. And as you know, no matter what Kasyan looks at, everything withers.” – said journalist and publicist Alexey Begeshev.

Not only February 29, but also the remaining 365 days of a leap year is not the best time for major purchases, marriage and other endeavors. Not only the Slavs, but also the ancient Romans, Celts and Scandinavians believed in this.

“Our ancestors endowed this day with various mystical properties in order to attribute their failures to them. Once every four years, people froze in anticipation of some kind of disaster: famine, crop failure, war, epidemics, loss of livestock,” – reported journalist and publicist Alexey Begeshev.

How and why leap year appeared

It happens that a big disaster really happens during a leap year. 1556th – earthquake in China, 830 thousand people died. 1896 – tsunami in Japan, which claimed more than 22 thousand lives. In 1912, the Titanic sank. In October 1948, the devastating Ashgabat earthquake occurred on the territory of Turkmenistan. In 2000, the nuclear-powered missile-carrying submarine Kursk sank near the Kola Bay.

“In ordinary, non-leap years, no less troubles happen. There are no statistics that would confirm that more tragedies happen in a leap year than in any other. People came up with this themselves,” – says mathematician and popularizer of science Matt Parker.

In fact, there is nothing mystical about leap years. In 46 BC, Alexandrian astronomers noticed that the Earth’s revolution around the Sun was not exactly 365 days, but 365 days and six hours. Accordingly, in four years one more day “accumulates”. Guy Julius Caesar ordered that this be taken into account in the calendar and the shortest month, February, be lengthened. So the 45th year BC became the first leap year in history.

“But then the Romans had a kind of record of days, and the 24th day was designated as the sixth day before the March calends. The sixth number in Latin is “sectus”, the second sixth number is “bissectus”. Therefore, a year with an extra day in February began to be called bisextilis. And in in Russian this word was transformed into vysokos”, – explained journalist and publicist Alexey Begeshev.

How did the Gregorian calendar come about?

After the assassination of Julius Caesar, the priests in charge of the calendar declared every third year a leap year. Emperor Augustus corrected the mistake 36 years later. In gratitude for this, the Roman Senate in 8 BC renamed the month Sextilis to August.

“For one and a half thousand years, no one could offer this system a worthy replacement, but in the 16th century, scientists made more accurate calculations, which were reflected in the Gregorian calendar,” – noted astrophysicist, PhD Neil deGrasse Tyson.

According to the Julian calendar, the length of the year is 365 days and a quarter. This is a little over eleven minutes longer than the length of the solar year. The discrepancy resulted in an extra day appearing every 128 years. Holidays have also shifted.

“Christmas, which previously coincided with the winter solstice, “moved” towards spring. The day of the vernal equinox, on which Easter directly depended, also shifted. Therefore, the need arose to switch to a new chronology system,” – explained mathematician and science popularizer Matt Parker.

Gradually, the whole world switched to the Gregorian calendar; our country was one of the last to do so – in 1918, when January 31 was followed by February 14.

Scientists are still perplexed as to why people decided that leap year brings misfortune. There are no historical prerequisites for this. Nevertheless, the superstition has taken root and many are warily waiting to see what 2024 has in store. Not only is it a leap year, but it also passes under the auspices of the stern leader of the entire Chinese horoscope – the Wooden Green Dragon. However, while astrologers predict new trials for the world, skeptics remind us that a leap year differs from a regular year only by an additional day.

Different versions of historical events, amazing episodes of history, little-known facts and interesting theories – study all this and much more in the program “Unknown History” with Boris Ryzhov on REN TV.