If you are wondering why we have the Leap Day of February 29 every four years, it is all about keeping the calendar lined up with the earth and the sun. If Leap Day is your birthday, then unlike every other day where the birthday odds are approximately 1 in 365, the odds of being born on today’s date is 1 in 1,461. If you are curious about the tradition of women proposing to men on this day, then you should thank St. Bridget and Sadie Hawkins, the latter who was from a Li’l Abner cartoon.
If you are looking for a movie to watch for Leap Day, there is always Leap Year (2010), a light romantic comedy with Amy Adams and Adam Scott that is not terrible. But the critics hated it.
Finally, if you are looking for an excellent song to go with the day, there is Billy Bragg’s song “Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards” from Workers Playtime
Jumble sales are organized and pamphlets have been posted,
Even after closing time there’s still parties to be hosted;
You can be active with the activists,
Or sleep in with the sleepers
While you’re waiting for the Great Leap Forwards;
One leap forwards, two leaps back,
Will politics get me the sack?
Bragg’s excellent song is about getting involved instead of just waiting or sleeping “with the sleepers.” As such, it might remind one of the connection between Leap Years and U.S. presidential elections, both which happen every four years.
Occasionally, we have an election year that is also not a Leap Year. But that will not happen again until we make a great leap forwards to 2100. Leap Years skip on years on turns of the century that are not divisible by 400, like 1900.
So enjoy the extra day this month. And remember, if you are on an annual salary, you are working for free on Leap Day. If you think that is unfair, remember as Bragg reminds us, “The Revolution is just a t-shirt away.”
(Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)
