The difference between a leap year and a regular year. What will a leap year bring to us?

2016 is a leap year. This is not such a rare occurrence, because every 4 years the 29th day appears in February. There are many superstitions associated with this year, but is it really so dangerous? Let's try to figure this out, whether leap years are different in any way. The 21st century list regarding leap years is maintained on the same principle as before.

Leap year: definition

We all know that there are 365 days in a year, but sometimes there are 366. What does this depend on? First of all, it should be noted that we live according to the Gregorian calendar, in which those that contain 365 days are considered ordinary years, and leap years are those that are one day longer, respectively 366 days. This happens because periodically in February there are not 28, but 29 days. This happens once every four years, and this very year is usually called a leap year.

How to determine a leap year

Those years whose numbers can be divided without a remainder by the number 4 are considered to be leap years. A list of them can be found in this article. Let's say the current year is 2016, if we divide it by 4, then the result of division is a number without a remainder. Accordingly, it is a leap year. In a normal year there are 52 weeks and 1 day. Each subsequent year shifts by one day in relation to the days of the week. After a leap year, the shift occurs immediately by 2 days.

The astronomical year is counted from the first day of the vernal equinox to the beginning of the next. This period, precisely, does not have exactly 365 days, which are indicated in the calendar, but several more.

Exception

The exception is the zero years of centuries, that is, those with two zeros at the end. But if such a year number can be divided without a remainder by 400, then it is also classified as a leap year.

If we consider that the extra hours in a year are not exactly six, then the missing minutes also affect the calculation of time. It was calculated that for this reason, in 128 years, one extra day would pass in this way. In this regard, it was decided that not every fourth year should be considered a leap year, but that those years that are divisible by 100, except those that are divisible by 400, should be excluded from this rule.

The history of the leap year

To be more precise, according to the Egyptian solar calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar, the year has not exactly 365 days, but 365.25, that is, plus another quarter of a day. The extra quarter of a day in this case is 5 hours 48 minutes and 45 seconds, which was rounded up to 6 hours, constituting a quarter of the day. But adding such a small unit of time to the year every time is impractical.

Over four years, a quarter of a day turns into a full day, which is added to the year. So February, which has fewer days than normal months, adds an extra day - and only a leap year has a February 29th.

Leap years: a list of years from the past and the 21st century. Example:

It was decided to adjust the calendar year in accordance with the astronomical year - this was done so that the seasons always occurred on the same day. Otherwise, the boundaries would shift over time.

From the Julian calendar we switched to the Gregorian calendar, which differs from the previous one in that a leap year occurs once every four years, and according to the Julian calendar - once every three years. The Russian Orthodox Church still lives according to the old style. It is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. Hence the celebration of dates according to the old and new styles. Thus, Catholics celebrate Christmas according to the old style - December 25, and in Russia according to the Gregorian calendar - January 7.

Where did the fear of a leap year come from?

The word "leap year" comes from the Latin phrase "bis sextus", which translates as "second sixth".

Most people associate leap year with something bad. All these superstitions go back to Ancient Rome. In the modern world, days are counted from the beginning of the month, but in ancient times it was different. They were counting the days left until the beginning of the next month. Let’s say, if we say February 24, then the ancient Romans in this case used the expression “the sixth day before the beginning of March.”

When a leap year occurred, an additional day appeared between February 24 and 25. That is, in a normal year there were 5 days left until March 1, and in a leap year there were already 6, which is why the expression “second sixth” came about.

With the onset of March, the fast ended, which lasted five days, if you start from February 24, but when you add an extra day, the fast already lasted, accordingly, 1 day longer. Therefore, they considered such a year to be bad - hence the superstition about the unluckiness of leap years.

In addition, the superstition comes from the fact that only in a leap year is Kasyanov’s Day celebrated, which falls on February 29. This holiday is considered mystical. In this regard, for a long time people have been trying not to do big things in such years, not to get married, not to have children, etc. Despite the simplicity of the algorithm for determining a leap year, some may wonder: “Which years are leap years?”

Leap years of the 19th century: list

1804, 1808, 1812, 1816, 1820, 1824, 1828, 1832, 1836, 1840, 1844, 1848, 1852, 1856, 1860, 1864, 1868, 1872, 1876, 1880, 1884, 1888, 1892, 1896.

Leap years of the 20th century: their list is as follows:

1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996

What years are leap years? The list of years of the current century will be constructed similarly to the previous ones. Let's take a look at it. Leap years (list) of the 21st century will be calculated in the same way. That is, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, etc.

Signs associated with leap year

This year, according to legend, you cannot change your usual environment. This can be understood as moving to a new place of residence, looking for a new job.

It was believed that marriages entered into this year could not bring happiness, and weddings were not recommended.

You also can’t do anything, start new things. This includes opening a business or building a house.

Let's answer the question: which years are leap years? List of 19th, 20th and 21st centuries:

It is better to postpone long trips and travel.

You can't celebrate your baby's first tooth.

Since ancient times, such years were considered dangerous, bringing many deaths, diseases, wars and crop failures. People, especially superstitious ones, fear the onset of such a year, having already prepared in advance for the worst. But are they really that dangerous?

Opinion about established superstition

The Church does not see anything bad in these years, explaining the phenomenon of a leap year as just changes in the calendar that were once made. Based on statistics, such years are no different from ordinary ones. Even if we take the issue of marriage in a leap year, which predicts a short life in marriage, then the number of divorces of “leap marriages” is no greater than among those couples who got married in ordinary years.

My God, what a boom! Everyone just says: the terrible leap year is coming, you can’t get married, open a business, you can’t do this, you can’t do that...
But it’s not for nothing that psychologists write - our thoughts are material. Of course, if the majority of the planet’s population thinks that some very bad year is coming, it will come! And he won’t even be shy! Why should “he” worry, everyone is waiting for “him”.

I would like to note that A leap year differs from all others by only one day - February 29. It is known that there are Julian and Gregorian calendars. The Julian calendar was introduced into circulation by the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar in 46 BC. Julius Caesar reformed the old Roman calendar, which by that time was very chaotic and complex. The new calendar was solar and distributed the solar year into calendar days and months. But since the solar year is not divided into an even number of days, the leap year system was adopted, which “caught up” with the length of the solar year.

Also, for the Gregorian calendar, additional measures were needed to calculate exact dates, because and it could not be absolutely accurate, since in principle it is impossible to accurately divide the solar year into the number of days.
For this purpose, not only leap years were introduced, but also, a kind of non-leap centuries. It was decided that those centuries that are not divisible by 4 without a remainder would be simple and not leap centuries, as is the case in the Julian calendar. That is, the centuries 1700, 1800, 1900, 2100 and so on are simple, that is, in these years there is no insertion of an additional day in February. And therefore, in these centuries, the Julian calendar goes one more day ahead.

By now, a difference of 13 days has accumulated between the two calendars, which will increase by another day in 2100. By the way, this difference is precisely the reason why in the Russian Orthodox Church the main holidays are celebrated 13 days later than in the Western Church and in some Orthodox churches.

It turns out that the leap year is a completely human invention necessary for calculating exact astronomical dates. And there is absolutely no mysticism here. But, unfortunately, many prejudices and superstitions constantly complicate the lives of many people.

For example, the fact that you can’t have a wedding or get married in a leap year. There are no favorable or unfavorable days or years for marriage. After all, you must admit, if a leap year were somehow unfavorable for the church from the point of view of marriage, then this would certainly be reflected in the church canons. But nothing like this can be found anywhere. This means that this superstition has nothing to do with the true state of affairs. After all, if young people love each other, what does this have to do with dates? How will they be able to reflect their destinies? Think...

There is another superstition associated with leap year. It says that more people die in a leap year than in other years. This can only be assumed if a large number of people die on February 29th. This reasoning has no basis. If we touch upon statistical data, approximately the same number of people die in leap years as in others, and the mortality rate depends on completely different factors.

And that's not all, of course. As soon as you hear about the coming of such a terrible time, you will no longer want to live. In fact, time is in our hearts, souls, whatever. We build our own destiny, our own world. We either move forward and enjoy the new day, or we are afraid, without knowing what.

May this year be the happiest, because we will live one more day! And how much can you accomplish in 24 hours! Good luck to you, dear friends! And don't believe prejudices.

2016 is a leap year with 366 days instead of the usual 365. Leap year was proposed to synchronize calendars. 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?Here are a few facts you may not know about leap year.

What does leap year mean?

1 . A leap year is a year that has 366 days rather than the usual 365. An additional day in a leap year is added in February - February 29 (leap day).

An additional 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 year, multiple of 4 and multiple of 400, but not 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, 2096

February 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 . One in five couples in Greece avoid getting married on a leap year, as it is believed to brings bad luck.

In Italy it is believed that during a leap year the woman becomes unpredictable and at this time there is no need to plan 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 powers. Among the famous people born on February 29 are the poet Lord Byron, composer Gioachino Rossini, and 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 correctly, you can celebrate while traveling from one country to another longest birthday in the world.

9. The city of Anthony in Texas, USA is a self-proclaimed " world capital of leap year". A festival is held here every year, where those born on February 29 gather from all over the world.

10. Record largest number of generations born on Leap Day, belongs 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 the largest number of children born on 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 a 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 popular belief, 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, on a leap year you can't start anything. This applies to important matters, business, major purchases, investments and construction.

Is it possible to get married on a leap year?

Leap year is considered extremely unsuccessful 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 any young man they liked, who could not refuse the proposal. Often such marriages were forced, and therefore family life did not work out.

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 wedding, covering the knees to make the marriage last.

Wedding dress and other wedding accessories It is not recommended to give it to anyone.

The ring should be worn on the hand, not the glove., since wearing a ring on a glove will cause the spouses to take marriage lightly

To protect the family from troubles and misfortunes, a coin was placed in the shoes of the bride and groom.

What should you not do during a leap year?

· During a leap year don't carol at Christmas time, since 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 have their hair cut before giving birth, since the child may be born unhealthy.

· During a leap year do not start building a bathhouse, which can lead to illness.

· You can't pick mushrooms, as it is believed that they all become poisonous.

· In a leap year there is no need to celebrate the appearance baby's first tooth. According to legend, if you invite guests, your teeth will be bad.

· You can't change jobs or apartments. According to the sign, the new place will turn out to be joyless and turbulent.

· If a child is born on a leap year, it must be baptize as quickly as possible, and choose godparents among blood relatives.

· Elderly people are not allowed buy things for the funeral in advance, as this can bring death closer.

· You can't get a divorce, because in the future you will not be able to find your happiness.

It is known that any given year is either an ordinary year or a leap year. Why is there such a distinction, how is time counted in each case, and how does a leap year differ from a regular year? This is discussed further.

Origin of the calendar

Periods of time called years are recorded in calendars. There you can also see the division into months, weeks and small units - days. This number system has been known since the times of Ancient Egypt. Using the calendar, people calculated when the next Nile flood would occur. It was necessary to have time to repair special structures for retaining water, so as not to be left without a crop.

The original calendar was somewhat inaccurate. It did not reflect the fact that in a year, in addition to a certain number of whole days, there are almost six more hours. Some corrections to this version of time recording were made by Julius Caesar. This type of calendar is called Julian. But the most accurate was the Gregorian calendar, which appeared even later, named after the Pope, who made adjustments to the previous version. It is by this chronology system that people in most countries now live.

Comparison

The number of whole days that make up a year, which always remains the same, is 365. And those additional six-hour segments after a certain time form another day. It is not difficult to calculate that such an additional day “grows” over four years. It is customary to add it to February - the twenty-ninth appears at the end of the month. And the year in which this happens is called a leap year.

So, the difference between a leap year and a regular year is the appearance of the 366th day. But why does February periodically become longer? This is because the year used to end with this month, and not December, and it was logical to time one more day to coincide with the end of the next round of time. In addition, February is short, so an additional date will not be superfluous for it.

Interestingly, superstitious people have their own answer to the question of what is the difference between a leap year and a regular year. It is argued that the first of them is unsuccessful for any endeavors, such as starting a business or getting married. In addition, according to popular belief, a leap year promises unforeseen disasters and various misfortunes. However, you should not trust such signs too much. After all, this unusual year did not appear under the influence of some mystical force. It was invented by people themselves for a more accurate calculation of time.

bis sextus- “second sixth”) is a year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, the duration of which is 366 days - one day longer than the duration of a regular, non-leap year. Typically, every fourth year is a leap year, although there are exceptions to this rule in the Gregorian calendar.

Introduction history

Caesar was assassinated two years after the introduction of the new calendar, and the second leap year began after his death. This may explain the fact that the priests in charge of the calendar did not understand the principle of introducing an extra day every fourth year, and instead began to introduce an extra day in February every three years (it is assumed that they counted the fourth from the year preceding the leap year) . For 36 years after Caesar, every third year was a leap year, and only then did Emperor Augustus restore the correct order of leap years (and also abolish several subsequent leap years to remove the accumulated additional shift). From a comparison of Roman and Egyptian dating in a papyrus found in 1999, it was established that leap years in Rome were , , , , , , , , , , , , , , BC. e., , , and every fourth year thereafter.

Gregorian calendar

To compensate for the accumulated error and avoid such a shift in the future, in 1582 Pope Gregory XIII carried out a calendar reform. To make the average calendar year more consistent with the solar year, it was decided to change the rule of leap years. As before, a year whose number was a multiple of four remained a leap year, but an exception was made for those that were a multiple of 100. From now on, such years were leap years only when they were also divisible by 400.

In other words, a year is a leap year if it is a multiple of 4 and not a multiple of 100, or a multiple of 400. A year is not a leap year if it is not a multiple of 4, or a multiple of 4, but a multiple of 100 and not a multiple of 400.

Centennial years ending in two zeros are not leap years in three out of four cases. So, the years were not leap years, since they are divisible by 100 and not divisible by 400. The year is a leap year, since it is divisible by 400. 2100, 2200 and 2300 are not leap years. In leap years, an additional day is introduced - February 29.