angel's jump
Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 10:27 pm
Ever since the beginning of time, the wonders of leap years have been speculated and analyzed. Every different culture or region has its own reflections on why a leap year exists, and what should or should not be done on that day.
A leap year is the year in the Gregorian calendar which consists of three hundred and sixty-six days. February 29th is added to that year to make up for the quarter day difference between an ordinary year and the astronomical year. This event happens in our calendar after every four-year period.
For most of you, the leap year will probably be just another Sunday, but for others around the world, it will be a day of rejoicing or a day of dread. A common wedding superstition is that a woman must never propose to a man unless it is on a leap year. This provides the marriage with good luck that is renewed every four years (or every leap year). Since February 29th is a backwards day, many actions are also done backwards.
One of my favorite stories is a great portrayal of superstition on leap year. A man, his friend, and his dog saw that on a February 29th morning, the sun was shining, and the breeze was cool. Deciding to participate in their favorite hobby of climbing, they headed toward the huge blue horizon of mountains ahead. Taking a different route than usual, they found that they were quickly lost. Still heading toward the mountainous distance they came across what they thought was their usual mountain range. They climbed to the highest peak, but did not see anyone or anything for miles around. Deciding to go back home, they realized they were coming from the west instead of the north where they usually came from. They were on a different mountain range! Even so, they found their way back home with a compass. When they got home they looked on their map of mountain ranges. The mountain range they were on apparently did not exist! They had discovered a new mountain range, which they quickly named the Superstitious Mountains. Calling up their ranger friend with fervor, they explained their day. Not believing their story, the ranger laughed and demanded that he be taken to the spot. The day was now the 30th. The range was gone! The Superstitious Mountains are said to appear only on the leap year, and disappear the next day. This story developed from the Virginia region, and is popular among children.
As you can see, many stories and traditions have developed from this phenomenon on our calendar, and many more are being cerebrated today. Bad or good luck: what’s going to happen on your leap year day?
A leap year is the year in the Gregorian calendar which consists of three hundred and sixty-six days. February 29th is added to that year to make up for the quarter day difference between an ordinary year and the astronomical year. This event happens in our calendar after every four-year period.
For most of you, the leap year will probably be just another Sunday, but for others around the world, it will be a day of rejoicing or a day of dread. A common wedding superstition is that a woman must never propose to a man unless it is on a leap year. This provides the marriage with good luck that is renewed every four years (or every leap year). Since February 29th is a backwards day, many actions are also done backwards.
One of my favorite stories is a great portrayal of superstition on leap year. A man, his friend, and his dog saw that on a February 29th morning, the sun was shining, and the breeze was cool. Deciding to participate in their favorite hobby of climbing, they headed toward the huge blue horizon of mountains ahead. Taking a different route than usual, they found that they were quickly lost. Still heading toward the mountainous distance they came across what they thought was their usual mountain range. They climbed to the highest peak, but did not see anyone or anything for miles around. Deciding to go back home, they realized they were coming from the west instead of the north where they usually came from. They were on a different mountain range! Even so, they found their way back home with a compass. When they got home they looked on their map of mountain ranges. The mountain range they were on apparently did not exist! They had discovered a new mountain range, which they quickly named the Superstitious Mountains. Calling up their ranger friend with fervor, they explained their day. Not believing their story, the ranger laughed and demanded that he be taken to the spot. The day was now the 30th. The range was gone! The Superstitious Mountains are said to appear only on the leap year, and disappear the next day. This story developed from the Virginia region, and is popular among children.
As you can see, many stories and traditions have developed from this phenomenon on our calendar, and many more are being cerebrated today. Bad or good luck: what’s going to happen on your leap year day?