GEORGE NEWS - We are all aware that 2024 is a leap year, and today, Thursday 29 February, is Leap Day - an extra day in the year that comes only once in four years. 

Today could be the day you take that one chance, jump into something new. The day is also known for marriage proposals by the ladies to their loved ones.

If you are doing something special, please share you story with us at lizette@groupeditors.co.za or kristy@groupeditors.co.za 

How does a leap year work?

Most of us are a bit fuzzy about the reason for this special occasion.

It is closely linked to our calendar, which is closely linked to Earth's orbit around the sun. Typically, February has only 28 days, but in a leap year, which is every four years, an extra day is added and we have 29 days in this month.

This addition is to ensure that the calendar year (which typically consists of 365 days) aligns with Earth's orbit around the sun, which takes approximately 365,24 days. 

The concept of leap years was introduced in the Julian calendar, proposed by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, and refined by the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria. 

In this calendar system, a leap year occurs every four years. 

However, because the actual length of the solar year is slightly less than 365,25 days, the Julian calendar's leap year system resulted in a slight discrepancy over time. 

To correct this, the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, refined the leap year rules further.

In the Gregorian calendar, years divisible by four are leap years, however, years divisible by 100 are not leap years, unless they are also divisible by 400.

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