7 things you may not know about Leap Years

7 things you may not know about Leap Year

27th February 2016

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Here are 5 fun facts you may not know about the 29 February.

Leap years were introduced By Julius Caesar in 46BC with an extra day added each year. This was adjusted in the 1500s, however so that a leap year does not fall when a year is divisible by 100 but not 400. This is because the earth takes 365.24 days to travel around the sun.
Babies born on 29 February can join the Honor Society of Leap Day babies which has over 10,000 members.
Famous people born on 29 February include the composer Rossini, founder of shorthand John Byrom, Hannah Mills, Olympic sailing silver medallist, rapper Ja Rul, the actor Joss Ackland, the cycling coach Dave Brailsford and footballer Darren Ambrose. One family has even had 3 children born on leap days in different years.
29 February is also known as St Oswalds Day named after St Oswald who died on 29 February 992.
The tradition that women can propose to men on 29 February is from an Irish legend that St Bridget made a deal with St Patrick that women could propose on this day.
In Greece it is considered unlucky to marry in a leap year.
Anthony, in Texas, is considered the 'Leap capital of the world' with people born on 29 February travelling from all over America to take part in their 4 day festival.

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