Hang on, March! It’s not your time just yet.

Today is February 29, also known as Leap Day. It occurs once every four years to keep our calendar year synchronized with the Earth’s revolutions around the Sun. This extra day is added because it actually takes approximately 365.25 days for the Earth to complete its orbit. Without the leap year adjustment, our calendar would slowly drift out of sync with the seasons over time. The concept of Leap Day dates back to the time of Julius Caesar, who introduced the Julian calendar in 46 BCE, though the current leap year system, known as the Gregorian calendar, was established by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582.

Some people enjoy Leap Day as a rare and unique occurrence, often celebrating it with special events or traditions. For those born on February 29th, known as “leaplings” or “leapers,” it’s a particularly significant day as it’s their official birthday, which only comes around once every four years.

Leap Day also inspires various themed parties, gatherings, and activities, with some individuals taking the opportunity to do something out of the ordinary to mark the occasion. In some cultures, Leap Day is the one day on which women are “allowed” to propose marriage to a man. Others may use Leap Day as a time for reflection, goal setting, engaging in acts of kindness or seeing it as an extra day to pursue personal growth.