27 Feb Leap Day: Ways to Spend the Extra Day
So what exactly is Leap Day?
Leap Day (February 29) is an “extra” day that only occurs once every four years, to account for the Earth’s orbital rotation of the Sun taking 6 hours longer than 365 days. The addition of Leap Day to the calendar ensures that seasons, equinoxes, and solstices stay on track.
Fun Facts about Leap Day
Throughout history, people have come up with myriad traditions and superstitions about Leap Day. In some countries, Leap Day is also known as Bachelor’s Day, where women can propose marriage to men. If the man refuses, he is obliged to give the woman money or buy her a dress. In Aurora, Illinois, single women may arrest single men and subject them to a four-dollar fine. In Greece, it is considered an unlucky day to get married.
There’s also the Leap Year Bug (also known as the Leap Year Problem), coined because Leap Day is known for causing problems with documentation and data storage due to calculations that don’t regard the difference between leap years and other years.
Those who have a birthday on Leap Day can be referred to as a “leaper,” “leapling,” or “leap-year baby.” Some choose to celebrate on February 28 or March 1, while others choose to only celebrate on the authentic date.
How should you celebrate Leap Day?
We think a bonus day calls for celebration! Here are some ideas for how to spend your extra day.
- Get an extra day out of your subscription services – Hit the gym, stream extra TV shows and movies, or order the rest of your Amazon wishlist with Prime shipping.
- Try something new – Sign up for a class, learn something new, go to that restaurant you’ve been meaning to try, cook a new recipe, or adopt a pet!
- Write your future self a letter or start a time capsule – Reflect on how different your life was four years ago and set some goals to accomplish in the next four years.
- Throw a Leap Day party – For kids, go with all things frog-related to keep with the “leap” theme. Adults, invite your friends over to watch the movie, Leap Year.
- Get in on Leap Day deals – It could be a great time to book your next vacation since many hotels and airlines run special offers for the holiday. Check your favorite stores and restaurants for discounts, too.
- Practice self-care – Take some time out to rest and do what you enjoy most!
