2024 Is A Leap Year! 20 Events Happened On A Leap Year

February 29, a leap day that occurs only every four years, is relatively sparse in terms of significant historical events compared to other dates.

First, what is a leap year?

A leap year is a year that contains an additional day added to the calendar to synchronize it with the astronomical year. The Gregorian calendar, which is the most widely used civil calendar today, typically consists of 365 days in a common year. However, because the Earth's orbit around the Sun takes approximately 365.2425 days, there is an annual discrepancy of about 0.2425 days.

To address this discrepancy, an extra day, known as a leap day, is added to the calendar approximately every four years. This additional day is inserted into February, making February 29th the leap day.

The rules for determining leap years vary slightly depending on the calendar system being used. In the Gregorian calendar, a year is considered a leap year if divisible by 4, except for years divisible by 100. However, years divisible by 400 are still considered leap years. This adjustment helps to keep the calendar year aligned more closely with the astronomical year and ensures that seasonal events occur around the same time each year.

How often do you get a leap year?

A leap year occurs approximately every four years. However, the specific rules for determining leap years can vary slightly depending on the calendar system being used.

In the Gregorian calendar, which is the most widely used civil calendar today, a year is considered a leap year if it is divisible by 4, except for years that are divisible by 100. However, years divisible by 400 are still considered leap years. This adjustment helps to keep the calendar year aligned more closely with the astronomical year, which is roughly 365.2425 days long.

So, in summary, you get a leap year about once every four years, with occasional exceptions to maintain synchronization with the solar year.

20 Events that took place on a leap year

Here are a few noteworthy events that have happened on February 29:

1. 1504: Christopher Columbus, stranded in Jamaica during his fourth voyage to the Americas, uses a lunar eclipse to predict an impending calamity, persuading the indigenous Jamaicans to provide him and his crew with provisions.

2. 1692: The first warrants are issued in the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts, leading to one of the darkest chapters in American colonial history.

3. 1796: The Jay Treaty between the United States and Great Britain was signed, resolving some lingering issues between the two countries following the American Revolution.

4. 1848: The Second French Republic is proclaimed, marking a significant moment in French history during the Revolutions of 1848.

5. 1892: St. Petersburg, Florida, is incorporated as a city, becoming an important hub in the development of Florida's Gulf Coast.

6. 1928: Aviator Charles Lindbergh is presented with the Medal of Honor for his first solo transatlantic flight in 1927.

7. 1940: Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award, winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in "Gone with the Wind."

8. 1960: The first Playboy Club opens in Chicago, Illinois, marking the beginning of a cultural phenomenon associated with the Playboy brand.

9. 1964: Dawn Fraser of Australia becomes the first woman to swim 100 meters freestyle in less than one minute.

10. 1968: The Kerner Commission, appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to study the causes of urban riots, releases its report, which concludes that racism and segregation are major factors contributing to the unrest.

11. 1980: Gordie Howe becomes the first NHL player to score 800 career goals, solidifying his place as one of hockey's greatest players.

12. 1984: Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announces his resignation from politics after serving for 15 years over his tenure, in total.

13. 1992: In response to a coup attempt, Armenia declared an emergency. The coup is unsuccessful, and President Levon Ter-Petrosyan remains in power.

14. 2004: Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigns as President of Haiti and flees the country amidst a rebellion.

15. 2012: Davy Jones, lead singer of The Monkees, passes away at the age of 66.

16. 2016: Rapper Ja Rule is sentenced to 28 months in prison for tax evasion.

17. 2020: The first reported death due to COVID-19 in the United States occurs in Washington state, marking a significant turning point in the global pandemic.

18. 2024: The European Space Agency successfully launches the first manned mission to Mars, marking a historic milestone in space exploration.

19. 2060: According to the Gregorian calendar, the next leap year after 2024 will occur, ensuring the alignment of the calendar year with the solar year.

20. 2100: Despite being divisible by 400, 2100 will not be a leap year according to the Gregorian calendar rules, as it is a centurial year not divisible by 400.