#FunFactFriday – What will you do with your extra day?

Once every four years, we get an extra day added to the calendar.  It happens because the earth rotates at just over 365 days per year and in order to keep everything in sync, we get the extra day.
So what will you do with your extra day?  It is a Saturday this year, so it will be tempting to be lazy, sleep in, binge-watch your favorite show. Or you could be a bit more productive – clean the baseboards, wash the car, mow the lawn.
While you are trying to figure that out, here are some fun facts:

• The Romans first designated February 29 as leap day, but a more precise formula (still in use today) was adopted in the 16th century when the Gregorian calendar fine-tuned the calculations to include a leap day in years only divisible by four – 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, etc.
• In 2020, leap year happens to perfectly line up the major holidays so that Valentine’s Day lands on Friday night (perfect date night) and Cinco de Mayo lands on (Taco) Tuesday. These types of things make event planners very happy.
• Christmas 2020 and New Year’s Day 2021 are also on a Friday, meaning two three-day weekends to round-out the holiday season.

Did you know that if you are born on February 29 you are known as a “leapling.”  We have our very own leapling here at HMA — wish a happy birthday Marissa.
The astrological sign for those born on February 29 is Pisces. You’ve got the most unique day on which to celebrate your birthday and according to the astrologers, you are more likely to go your own way and exhibit an independent streak and optimistic spirit.

I’m sure most of you learned the poem to help you remember how many days were in each month.  I found this version for leap year:

Thirty days hath September,

April, June and November;

All the rest have thirty-one

Save February, she alone

Hath eight days and a score

Until leap year gives her one day more.