A leap year, or it is also called the word “leap year,” causes many rumors and superstitions, which mainly boil down to the fact that this year is unhappy and promises only negative events. In this article we will talk about how fair these opinions are.
A little history
The word “leap year” came to us from the Latin language, that is, it is of ancient origin, and its literal translation sounds like “second sixth”.
According to the Julian month, the Earth goes through its circle in 365.25 days, and every year the days shifted by 6 hours. Such an error could easily confuse ancient men, and in order to avoid this, it was decided that after every fourth year another day would be added to the annual circle. Accordingly, this year will include 366 days, and they will be added in the shortest month - February, it will consist of 29 days. To distinguish it, it was called a leapfrog.
On Ancient Rus', in turn, there were many legends about the occurrence of leap years, and each of them, even then, was perceived as necessarily unlucky. Legends about the arrival of the new calendar and the leap year in Rus' were also reflected in the Saints. So, February 29 is dedicated to the memory of St. Kasyan, and people call it Kasyan’s Day. Several legends and apocrypha (stories that are not recognized by the church as confirmed and consistent with what we know about God) are dedicated to this day. But it sheds light on the origin bad reputation Leap Years
According to this legend, Kasyan appears to the common people not as a man, but as an angel, and a fallen one, who was once seduced by Satan, as a result of which he fell away from God. However, later he realized how wrong he was, repented and prayed to the Creator for mercy. Taking pity on the traitor, God, before accepting him back, assigned His angel to him. The celestial being shackled Kasyan and, by order from above, beat him on the forehead with a metal hammer to bring him to his senses for 3 years, and on the fourth he freed him.
The second legend about Kasyan
According to the second legend Kasyan is a person, and Kasyanov’s day is the date of his name day. However, according to the legend, that man systematically drank himself to death for three years in a row, but on the fourth he came to his senses, repented, gave up his addiction, turned to repentance and became a saint - he acquired the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the people believed, it was appropriate for him to celebrate his day so rarely - only on February 29.
The third legend about Kasyan
This legend is dedicated to Saint Kasyan, who travels across the earth, and Nicholas the Wonderworker, well known to Christians. And then they meet a man along the way. He asked them for help because his cart was stuck in the mud. Kasyan responded to this that he was careful not to spoil his clean robe, but Nikolai, not afraid of the dirt, immediately helped. The saints returned to the Kingdom of God, and the Creator noticed that Nicholas’s robe was dirty and asked him what was causing it.
The saint told him what happened on the way. Then the Lord noticed that Kasyan’s clothes were clean and asked the question: were they really traveling together? Kasyan replied that he was afraid to stain his clothes. God realized that Cosmas was being cunning, and arranged it in such a way that his name day is celebrated once every 4 years. And Nikolai’s name day for his meekness is twice in 365 days.
Anyway , whatever it may be, the leap was recognized as bad. Therefore, the superstitious Russian people tried to somehow protect themselves from this day.
- I tried to finish all important things before the 29th of February.
- Some did not dare leave the house.
- On February 29, if the sun came out, it was called Kasyan's Eye or Kasyanov's Eye. Then they tried not to get under the sun, so that the saint wouldn’t jinx them! And he did not bring suffering and illness to the poor man.
As in ancient times, in today's world we often come across superstitions and signs that are not with the best side determine leap years of the 21st century. We will list some of them:
Why is a leap year considered bad?
This attitude is quite understandable: the appearance of the 29th day in February characterizes the whole year as being different from others, and psychologically sets it apart from others. This can be important for people who are unsure of their abilities. It will be much easier for him, citing this special period, to refuse something new than to expend energy for self-development or starting some kind of business.
For the same reason, it will be easier not to get pregnant, so as not to give birth later, because there is an increased fear that the birth will be difficult, the baby may be born sick. And if not, then suddenly his life will turn out to be joyless or difficult.
Our inventive people see and the threat in the very name of the leap, saying that it “mows down” people, in other words, takes them away, leads to death. Therefore, the holiday is celebrated with caution (or, conversely, on a special scale - you never know who will die...). This is a very common belief that tries to creep into statistics. It is becoming accepted that the mortality rate increases every 4th year. At the same time, these data are in no way confirmed by the statistics themselves.
You can’t pick mushrooms either, much less eat them or sell them to people. No, not so as not to be poisoned, but so that “bad soil” does not bring “anything bad” to a person.
It is believed that the leap year entails natural disasters and all kinds of disasters: drought, floods, fires.
Which years are leap years?
In the last century, as well as in the current one, such calendar periods also caused horror. A list of them can be seen in the image or found on the Internet. Also, the year 2000, the same millennium, in turn was a leap year, opening the whole millennium.
Despite the fact that with the development of technology, information has become more accessible and it is possible to learn more and expand one’s horizons, getting rid of primitive fears, many continue to anxiously await the leap, internally preparing themselves for problems and troubles, and when they come (if they come), it is perceived as doomed: well, it’s a leap year... An extra day in February. Deadly!
There are special calendars that indicate when exactly the leap year occurs. It is enough to look carefully at the table and find (or not find) the current figures there. It is enough to know at least one leap year, after which you can calculate them yourself using elementary arithmetic. Let's say you're interested in leap years in the 21st century. Find the calendar and view it. Having learned that 2016 is a leap year, it is easy to understand that the next year will come in 2020.
If you trust statistics, a very small number of all disasters and troubles occur on leap years. The superstitions that exist today can be interpreted by the fact that people who closely followed the misfortunes and troubles that occurred during leap years gave an exaggerated meaning to what was happening only because of the unflattering reputation of the latter. I would like to wish people who highly trust superstitions about leap years to pay more attention to positive events and changes. And then, perhaps, a list of good and joyful signs will be collected that will restore the reputation of the Leap Years.
We all know that a normal year consists of 365 days, but there is also a leap year, which includes 366 days. It occurs once every four calendar years, and the month of February in such a year includes one more day. But few people wonder why such a year is called a leap year, and today we will tell you about the origin of this name.
Origin of the name "Leap" year
As is the case with many other names known today, the origin of “Leap” Year has its origins in Latin. This year has long been called “Bis Sextus”. The Latin translation of this name means “Second Sixth”.
It is worth noting that such a calculation of time was introduced by the Romans, and in the Roman calendar BC, days were not counted in the same way as they do today. The Romans were accustomed to counting days in terms of the number of days remaining until the next month. The Romans inserted an extra day between February 23 and 24. February 24 itself was called “sectus,” which meant “the sixth day before the beginning of March.” In a leap year, when an additional day was inserted between February 23 and 24, February 24 occurred twice, which was called “bis sectus”, as we already noted - the “Second Sixth” day.
It is easy to understand that “Bis sectus” in the Slavic sense can be easily converted into “leap year”, because these names are consonant. However, in the modern Gregorian calendar, an additional day, as is known, is inserted not between February 23 and 24, but after February 28. So, once every four years, we have the opportunity to observe on wall calendars, calendars in our computers and smartphones, the day of February 29th.
Why do we need a leap year?
Having figured out why leap year is so called, it is also necessary to carry out small excursion and about why such a year exists at all, why it was introduced.
We all know that a normal year consists of 365 days, we are used to it, and we do not doubt this statement for a second. However, in reality it is not entirely correct, since each year is equal to 365.4 days, that is, 365 days and 6 hours. Of course, such a calculation of time is very inconvenient, and it certainly leads to certain shifts in people’s perception of the flow of time. That is why scientific astronomers decided to calculate each multiple of four years in the amount of 366 days (using 4 excerpts of 6 hours from other years), and all the rest - 365 days exactly.
The Salem witch hunt began.
1708
Peter issues a decree on the foundation of the Biysk fortress
1784
Leo von Klenze, the founder of architectural movements based on the principle of “new - slightly rebuilt antique”, was born. And the Marquis de Sade was transferred to the Bastille, where in five years he would write three of his most famous and shocking novels.
1792
Gioachino Rossini is born.
1812
Napoleon appoints commanders in his army. Alexander I is considering a gas lighting project in the capital of his empire.
1816
Grand Duchess gets married - of course, to a prince. Russian Emperor cares about widows and the country's legislation.
1828
The premiere of Ober's opera “The Mute of Portici” (or “Fenella”) took place.
1832
Charles Darwin explores the Brazilian jungle during the Beagle expedition.
1856
The Crimean War is over.
1860
Herman Cholerite was born.
1880
The St. Gotthard Tunnel was completed.
1888
Russian empire full of cultural events. Performances are performed, writers write letters. In Europe, Engels writes something of little interest to Liebknecht. In America, there is another round of court cases that ultimately dragged on for a quarter of a century and led to changes in the rules of judicial evidence.
1892
An international commission has been created to regulate fur seal fishing. This was one of the first examples of international cooperation in animal conservation.
1896
Talented organizers and creative personalities were born all over the world on this year and day.
1900
By Gregorian calendar 1900 is a non-leap year, according to Julian - a leap year.
1904
Russo-Japanese War- one of the first in the 20th century. And in Europe they dance and sing.
1908
Liquid helium was obtained at the Leiden laboratory. The Oryol Central Center has been created in Russia. They play football in Brazil.
1912
Joseph Stalin escapes from exile. Russia is helping to conclude the Serbian-Bulgarian treaty. Workers go on strike in Bodaibo.
1916
Strikes, pogroms, sunken ships, orders and everything that accompanies a world war. In Moscow, poets are self-elected to the Chairmen of the Globe.
1920
The Red Army is pushing back the atamans of Denikin and Annenkov. The first constitution was approved in the Czech Republic. The Kapp putsch began in Germany.
1924
After civil war culture comes to life. Surrogate money is prohibited. Vladimir Kryukov, chairman of the KGB and member of the State Emergency Committee, is born.
1928
The Central Election Commission and Council of People's Commissars of all levels produce documents. Writers write letters. The artists perform. The ships are being built. Celebrities are born.
1932
There is an armed rebellion of fascists in Finland. The last emperor of China is still trying to lead the state.
1936
Niels Bohr proposed a planetary model of the structure of the atom.
1940
Hitler is fooling the American diplomat. Black Hattie McDaniel wins an Oscar.
1944
Soviet troops successfully advancing in all directions.
1948
The President of Peru criticizes his opponents. Irina Kupchenko was born.
1952
The USSR sends notes to America because of the Katyn affair. A letter is sent to Stalin about Paulus. The Academy of Arts thinks about talented children. Aircraft testing ends and begins. Raisa Smetanina is born in the village of Mokhcha.
1956
Planes are flying. Unfairly accused and executed generals have been rehabilitated. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan was created. The President of Finland resigned. In Korea, articles are published that fully support the opinion of the country's leader.
1960
Largest earthquake in Morocco. Flights of cruise missiles and new aircraft. Film premieres. Writers and at least one serial killer were born.
1964
Launching of a Soviet nuclear submarine. A message from the Americans about the existence of a new strategic fighter aircraft. The Pact of Arab Cultural Unity is signed.
1968
Ships and submarines have been launched. The Il-18D plane crashed.
1972
V. Vysotsky sings in Moscow. In the USA, John Lennon begins to fight for an American visa.
Did you know that not every 4th year is a leap year? Why is a leap year considered unlucky, and what signs are associated with it?
What does leap year mean?
1. A leap year is a year in which there are 366 days, rather than the usual 365. An additional day in a leap year is added in February - February 29 (leap day).An extra day in a leap year is necessary because a full revolution around the Sun takes a little more than 365 days, or rather 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds.
People once followed a 355-day calendar with an additional 22-day month every two years. But in 45 BC. Julius Caesar, together with the astronomer Sosigenes, decided to simplify the situation, and the Julian 365-day calendar was developed, with an extra day every 4 years to compensate for the extra hours.
This day was added in February because it was once the last month in the Roman calendar.
2. This system was supplemented by Pope Gregory XIII (who introduced the Gregorian calendar), who coined the term "leap year" and declared that a year that is a multiple of 4 and a multiple of 400, but not a multiple of 100, is a leap year.
So, according to the Gregorian calendar, 2000 was a leap year, but 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not.
What are leap years in the 20th and 21st centuries?
1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028, 2032, 2036, 2040, 2044, 2048, 2052, 2056, 2060, 2064, 2068, 2072, 2076, 2080, 2084, 2088, 2092, 2096February 29 is leap day
3. February 29 is considered the only day when a woman can propose marriage to a man. This tradition began in 5th century Ireland when St. Brigid complained to St. Patrick that women had to wait too long for suitors to propose. Then he gave women one day in a leap year - the last day in the shortest month, so that the fair sex could propose to a man.
According to legend, Brigitte immediately knelt down and proposed to Patrick, but he refused, kissing her on the cheek and offering her a silk dress to soften her refusal.
4. According to another version, this tradition appeared in Scotland, when Queen Margaret, at the age of 5, announced in 1288 that a woman could propose to any man she liked on February 29.
She also made a rule that those who refused had to pay a fine in the form of a kiss, a silk dress, a pair of gloves or money. To warn suitors in advance, the woman was required to wear trousers or a red petticoat on the day of the proposal.
In Denmark, a man who refuses a woman's marriage proposal must provide her with 12 pairs of gloves, and in Finland - fabric for a skirt.
Leap year wedding
5. Every fifth couple in Greece avoids getting married on a leap year, as it is believed to bring bad luck. In Italy, it is believed that during a leap year a woman becomes unpredictable and there is no need to plan during this time. important events. So, according to the Italian proverb "Anno bisesto, anno funesto". (“A leap year is a doomed year”).
Born on February 29
6. The chances of being born on February 29th are 1 in 1461. Around the world, about 5 million people were born on Leap Day. 7. For many centuries, astrologers believed that children born on Leap Day have unusual talents, a unique personality and even special forces. Among famous people Those born on February 29 can name the poet Lord Byron, composer Gioachino Rossini, actress Irina Kupchenko.
8. In Hong Kong, the official birthday for those born on February 29 is March 1 in normal years, while in New Zealand it is February 28. If you time it right, you can celebrate the longest birthday in the world while traveling from one country to another.
9. The town of Anthony in Texas, USA is the self-proclaimed “Leap Year Capital of the World.” A festival is held here every year, where those born on February 29 gather from all over the world.
10. Record the largest number generations born on Leap Day belong to the Keogh family.
Peter Anthony Keogh was born on February 29, 1940 in Ireland, his son Peter Eric was born on February 29, 1964 in the UK, and his granddaughter Bethany Wealth was born on February 29, 1996.
11. Karin Henriksen from Norway holds the world record for giving birth to the largest number of children on a leap day.
Her daughter Heidi was born on February 29, 1960, son Olav on February 29, 1964, and son Lief-Martin on February 29, 1968.
12. In the traditional Chinese, Jewish and ancient Indian calendars, not a leap day is added to the year, but whole month. It is called the "intercalary month". It is believed that children born in a leap month are more difficult to raise. In addition, it is considered unlucky to start serious business during a leap year.
Leap year: signs and superstitions
Since ancient times, a leap year has always been considered difficult and bad for many undertakings. IN folk beliefs Leap year is associated with Saint Kasyan, who was considered evil, envious, stingy, unmerciful and brought misfortune to people. According to legend, Kasyan was a bright angel to whom God trusted all plans and intentions. But then he went over to the side of the Devil, telling him that God intended to overthrow all satanic power from heaven.
For his betrayal, God punished Kasyan by ordering him to be beaten on the forehead with a hammer for three years, and in the fourth year to be released to earth, where he committed unkind deeds.
There are many signs associated with leap year:
Firstly, you can’t start anything on a leap year. This applies to important matters, business, major purchases, investments and construction.
It is also not recommended to change anything during a leap year, as this will not bring the desired result and can even be disastrous. During such a period, you should not plan to move to new house, job change, divorce or marriage.
Is it possible to get married on a leap year?
A leap year is considered extremely unlucky for marriage. Since ancient times, it was believed that a wedding played in a leap year would lead to an unhappy marriage, divorce, infidelity, widowhood, or the marriage itself would be short-lived. This superstition may be due to the fact that in a leap year, girls could woo anyone they liked young man, who could not refuse the offer. Often such marriages were forced, and therefore family life didn't ask.
However, you should treat these signs wisely and understand that everything depends on the spouses themselves and how they build the relationship. If you do plan a wedding, there are several ways to mitigate the “consequences”:
Brides are advised to wear long dress for a wedding, covering the knees to make the marriage last.
It is not recommended to give a wedding dress and other wedding accessories to anyone.
The ring should be worn on the hand, not the glove, since wearing a ring on the glove will cause the spouses to take the marriage lightly
To protect the family from troubles and misfortunes, a coin was placed in the shoes of the bride and groom.
The bride must keep the spoon from which the groom ate, and on the 3rd, 7th and 40th day after the wedding, the wife had to give her husband something to eat from this particular spoon.
What should you not do during a leap year?
· During a leap year, people do not carol at Christmas time, as it is believed that you can lose your happiness. Also, according to a sign, a caroler who dresses up as an animal or monster can take on the personality of an evil spirit. · Pregnant women should not cut their hair before giving birth, as the baby may be born unhealthy.
· During a leap year, you should not start building a bathhouse, which can lead to illness.
· During a leap year, it is not recommended to tell others about your plans and intentions, as luck may change.
· It is not recommended to sell or exchange animals and kittens should not be drowned, as this will lead to poverty.
· You cannot pick mushrooms, as it is believed that they all become poisonous.
· During a leap year, there is no need to celebrate the appearance of a child’s first tooth. According to legend, if you invite guests, your teeth will be bad.
· You cannot change your job or apartment. According to the sign, the new place will turn out to be joyless and turbulent.
· If a child is born in a leap year, he must be baptized as quickly as possible, and godparents must be chosen among blood relatives.
· Elderly people should not buy funeral items in advance, as this may hasten death.
· You can’t get a divorce, because in the future you won’t be able to find your happiness.