Why Do We Have Leap Years?

A leap year comes approximately every four years. The reason for this extra day is because most calendars are based on the assumption that there are 365 days in a year, when in fact, there are actually 365 and one-quarter days. To keep our modern Gregorian calendar in sync with the tropical calendar, we add an extra day to February every four years.

Those born in a leap year can look at it as a gift or a curse; however, there are several interesting facts about this day you may not know.

Why a Leap Year? 

• In a nutshell, the Earth actually rotates about 365 and quarter times on its axis to complete a full year’s orbit around the sun. That means that periodically -- or every four years to be precise -- an extra day is needed to help balance things out. Apparently, the end of February seemed as good a place as any. And, according to most theories, we have Julius Caesar to thank for that.

• Greek superstition claims that bad luck will come to couples that marry during a leap year. Allegedly one in five engaged couples in Greece will avoid planning their wedding during a leap year. In modern-day America, Leap Year fables evolved into every teenage girl’s worst nightmare -- a Sadie Hawkins dance in which girls invite boys to spend an uncomfortable evening in a crepe-paper covered gymnasium.

• The chances of a leap birthday are one in 1,461 -- long odds for getting the short end of the stick. Imagine waiting four years for your real birthday and hearing endless jokes about being three when you're really 12.

• The longest time between two leap years is eight years. The last time this happened was between 1896 and 1904 and it won't happen again until 2096 to 2104.

• People born on leap year’s day are called leaplings.

• The chance of being born on leap day is about 1 in 1,461, says Raenell Dawn, cofounder with Peter Brouwer of the Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies, a club that counts 9,000 members worldwide.

Famous Leap Day Birthdays

Serial killer Aileen Wuornos

Augusta Savage

Italian opera composer Gioacchino Rossini, who today gets a Google Doodle.

Singer Dinah Shore

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Howard Nemerov

Cleveland Indians 3rd Baseman Al Rosen

Rapper Ja Rule

Do you have more fun facts? Were you born on Leap Day? Share your story and facts in the comments section below.