National: Leap Year superstitions and traditions
Ireland seems to be getting away lightly
Leap Day is here, and with this elusive day that occurs only once every four years, superstitions, traditions, and of course, long waited for birthdays can culminate to form a day of celebration.
Although, some believe February 29 can bring with it a day of hardships and curses. Whatever your beliefs, this day is actually very important in our Gregorian calendar.
So what is a Leap year, and why do we need it?
A leap year means there is an extra day in the year, February 29. Believed to have been introduced by the Eqyptians in the Third Century BC, the extra day once every four years remedies celestial misalignment.
In simpler terms, one year is counted as 365 days, however, a solar year takes 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. So, the time it takes for the Earth to orbit the sun doesn't exactly align with an even number of days. A leap year fixes this by adding an extra day.
A leap year is necessary as astronomical events and seasons don't unfold over an exact number of days and calendars with an exact number of days, such as ours, would inevitably drift over time, misaligning with certain events they track, such as the changing of the seasons, equinoxes and solstices.
Traditions and Superstitions
Each country has its own superstitions and traditions when it comes to February 29, for example in Greece they believe that getting engaged or married on this day will curse the union and ultimately end in divorce or the untimely death of your partner.
In France, a satirical newspaper titled 'La Bougie du Sapeur' comes out only on February 29, and usually sells out quick and outsells other national papers. 2024 will mark the 12th edition of the newspaper.
In Ireland, Leap Day can often be referred to Ladies Privilege, the one day that women can propose to men. This tradition dates back to the 5th century, when Saint Brigid, who felt women who had to wait too long for a proposal from a suitor, made an agreement with St Patrick that women could propose on this day.