Why do they say leap year? Why do so many people die on leap years? Why do we need a leap year?

“Oh leap year, damned year! And we thoughtlessly forget about him...

In this unfortunate year, a close lens is studying us.

Of hundreds of faces - not this one, not that one, not that one.

Shooting individual faces!”

Leonid Filatov

Slavic culture has a special attitude towards leap years. Every fourth year that comes (having an extra February day in reserve) has long been considered a time of disasters and terrible events. They are afraid of a leap year and are preparing for it. Exist various signs, rules of behavior and numerous prohibitions. Why is a leap year considered bad? Why did dislike and fear appear by this time?

How dangerous

Our planet takes 365.242187 days to circle the Sun. The extra time results in 6 hours, which in four years turns into an extra day. If we do not pay attention to this, we will begin to “float” through the seasons, eventually summer will turn into winter, and autumn into spring. The “extended” year saves the situation.

Historical journey

Why is a leap year called a leap year? The word "leap year" comes from the Latin "Bic sextus", which means "second sixth". The first calendar with an additional February day appeared in 46 BC. V ancient Rome under Julius Caesar. By order of the dictator, another 24th date was introduced in February. This calendar was called “Julian” (we know it as “ old style"). Caesar chose February, since this month was the last of the Roman year.

A couple of years later, the great commander was killed. The Roman priests, either intentionally or out of ignorance, designated every third year as a leap year. With their help, from 44 to 9 AD, instead of the required 9, people lived 12 leap years. Octavian Augustus brought order to the “temporary disgrace.” By decree of the Emperor of Rome, the next 16 years passed without leap time and the chronology was equalized.

Europe existed for 16 centuries Julian calendar. Haven't gotten around to it yet Orthodox Church. Christian believers sought to celebrate church festivals at the same time. 1582 became next time change. The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Gregory XIII, proposed a different calendar calculation. The innovation was adopted at the Ecumenical Council during the discussion of the date of Easter. The new chronology introduced an additional February day (29th) for the leap year.

As you can see, nothing mystical. So why did leap year become unlucky and turn into a frightening monster? Maybe this was influenced by the death of Caesar, the founder extra day? Or the reason is mysterious birth Great Martyr Cassian?

St. Kasyan's Day

Cassian lived in the 5th century. During his lifetime, he was a completely respectable person: he founded Gallic monasteries and preached monasticism. With his help, the literary world was replenished with 12 books about the life of monks in Egypt and Palestine. The writer created 24 “Conversations” essays about the fundamentals of morality of the Christian faith. But a law-abiding person happened to be born on the 29th of February.

The face of the peace-loving Kasyan acquired negative features due to the influence of ancient Russian postulates about good/bad times. Ancestors considered a prosperous period when the world around was predictable and organized. The definition of “bad” was given during the transition-change of one existence into another (the arrival of a new year, the change of seasons).

Cassian's date of birth fell on the most terrible date according to Slavic beliefs - the last day harsh winter and the end of the year (among the Slavs the year began on March 1). Harmless Kasyan gained notoriety. People called him: “Ill-wisher, Skewed, Stingy, Unmerciful, Crooked, Envious, Cross-eyed, Grudge-bearing.”

Slavic fears. 29th day of February Slavic people considered severe. This is the time of Kashchei-Chernobog, the ruler of dark, unclean forces. The ruler of the Pekel kingdom, the god Navi (the world of the dead) brings evil, madness, corruption and death. After the adoption of Christian canons in Rus', the image of the dark entity was transferred to the Holy Martyr, whose day is celebrated on February 29. The sameness of names (Kasyan - Kashchei) added to the negativity.

The ancient Russians did not add the martyr Cassian to the ranks of Saints. His name was covered with shame, his appearance was depicted as devilish, demonic. Cross-eyed, crooked-armed, empty-eyed, hunched over, with an evil look and a bad temper - this was, according to the Slavs, Kasyan.

Christian legends. Many legends were associated with the name of Cassian, where he acted as a traitor, a negative, gloomy person, evil spirits:

Initially, Kasyan belonged to the brightest cherubs. But he betrayed the Lord by warning Satan about the divine plans to expel the devilish horde from Heaven. Soon the disobedient repented, God took pity on the apostate and appointed a light punishment. The traitor was handed over to the seraphim, who whipped the disobedient for three years, and then the apostate was given a break.
Cassian served as a guard at the gates of Hell. He rested once in four years. In his absence, 12 apostles guarded the underworld. But they did not have enough strength and experience. During their service, some evil spirits escaped from the underworld and went to do mischief on Earth, spoiling the whole year with their presence.
Baby Kasyan was kidnapped by demons and raised according to demonic canons. Cassian grew up and began to harm humanity, relying on his satanic upbringing.
Kasyan, in response to the farmer’s request to help him free the stuck cart, rudely refused him. Nikolai Ugodnik helped the poor man. The Lord was angry at Cassian’s arrogance and ordered people to serve him prayers once in four years, and endowed Nicholas the Pleasant with divine favor.

What does the “demonic” time bring? Poor fellow Kasyan whipped up negativity throughout “his” year. In dark times, many people die, livestock die, and poultry suffers from pestilence. Equipment broke down, food spoiled. The crops withered in the fields, famine came, and mortality increased. According to legends, prayers near the image of Cassian helped protect against misfortunes on February 29th. On this date, it was recommended not to leave the house again, not to allow animals or birds into the yard, and to postpone work or service.

If a person left home on February 29, a dangerous illness and death awaited him. The “lucky ones” who saw the light on the 29th were destined for a difficult fate, serious illnesses from childhood and thankless work.

Signs and beliefs. They said that Kasyan, having broken free during leap time, loved to wander the Earth and look around. Where his gaze fell, there was misfortune; he looked at a person - he would be overcome by illness; his gaze would catch a village - he would send a human pestilence; What attitude the people had towards leap years can be traced by numerous sayings:

“Kasyan to the people - it’s hard for people, for cattle - an animal dies, for a tree - the trunk breaks.”
“The mower Cassian mows down with a crooked scythe until he mows down lives.”
“Kasyan went lame, he ruined the whole time in a crooked way.”
“The Leap Year is coming, bringing pestilence and death.”
“No matter what Cassian looks at, everything fades.”
“Hood offspring in the year of Kasyanov.”

What not to do

People are waiting with fear and apprehension for the onset of leap time. It has been noticed that every four years there is an intensification of natural disasters on earth. Destructions, disasters, natural disasters– Deadly Harvest keeps a list of leap years:

1204. The Crusaders took possession of Constantinople. The great Byzantine Empire collapsed, taking with it numerous victims of Orthodox Christians.
1232. Beginning of the outrages of the Spanish Inquisition.
1268. Sicily shakes from natural disaster. 60,000 people die.
1400. Medieval Europe plague takes over. The Black Death took with it more than a third of the European population.
1556. An earthquake struck the Chinese provinces of Henan, Shaanxi and Shanxi. The bony harvest increased by 830,000 people.
1572. The terrible “Night of Bartholomew” takes 10,000 people into the world of the dead.
1896. Destructive Japanese tsunami. 27,000 people died.
1908. The fall of the mysterious Tunguska meteorite.
1912. The end of the legendary Titanic. Deaths number 1,500 people.
1948. The strongest Ashgabat earthquake. The world of the dead took 37,000 people.
1960. The seismic Chilean cataclysm killed 6,000 people.
1976. East China Earthquake (Tien Shan). The death toll was 655,000.
1988. Earthquake in Armenia (Spitak). 25,000 people died.
1996. Collision between a Boeing 747 Airbus and a Kazakhstan Airlines Il-76 aircraft. There are 349 deaths.
2000. Fire at the Ostankino TV tower, the death of the Kursk submarine, the plane crash of the supersonic Concorde airliner near Paris. 246 people died.

Statistics inexorably confirm Kasyanov’s fierce temper. It is not for nothing that people have created many superstitions, signs and prohibitions that cannot be done during a leap year.

You can't get married

According to popular belief, in the year of Cassian it is not allowed to change anything or start new things. This also applies marital status. Marriages concluded at this time promised troubles in personal life. Bad sign- wedding to Cassian. As people used to say: “The newlyweds, having gotten married during Kasyanov’s year, look for love on the side, quarrel and swear, and don’t let things get along.”

One of the beliefs says that a person whose wedding takes place in the year of Kasyanov will become a widow.

Mystics find own reasons prohibition of marriages in the year of Kasyan. Changing the position of the Earth relative to other planets disrupts the geomagnetic situation and the homeostatic field. Change negatively affects sensitive, receptive people, disrupting normal brain activity. The result is a manifestation of aggression, constant overexcitement.

Interesting fact. Couples who dared to marry during the Cassian Year, and their personal lives did not work out, had to wait for another time for divorce. Divorcing during a leap year is not recommended. Otherwise, the person will be personally unhappy for the rest of his life. The divorce was postponed until next year.

You can't give birth

Although couples are not advised to have children during Kasyanovo, children do not ask adults whether they can be born or not. The people's attitude towards the baby, who saw the light of day during a leap year, was ambiguous. The ancestors believed that such a person would face an unhappy, difficult fate. Illness and failure will become his companions. And others considered such kids to be the chosen ones.

Children born in the year of Cassian are waiting for special destiny. These are God's messengers, as people said. Fate has prepared a special path for them. Children of “Kasyan time” are endowed with the mystical gift of seeing the future. They are called upon to point out mistakes and guide others to the right path.

Those born in a leap year on February 29 (a mysterious, “elusive” day) have been considered since ancient times to be born witchers, sorcerers, and sorceresses. The village people were afraid of such people and avoided them. But the opinion of those in charge was always listened to - after all, such people were considered messengers of the other world.

Pregnant women expecting a baby for a year Kasyan were not recommended to cut their hair until the very birth - this protected the future baby from diseases and misfortunes. This year they did not celebrate the appearance of the child’s first tooth - according to legend, the remaining teeth would grow crooked and unhealthy. They tried to quickly baptize children born in a “bad” year.

Interesting fact. According to statistics, people are born in leap years talented people. William Shakespeare, John Byron, Galileo Galilei, Pope Paul III, Leonardo da Vinci. These legendary personalities saw life in the year of Kasyan!

Can't plan or create

Cassian, a minion of evil spirits, has been persistently harming people all year. During this time, do not start any new business:

You cannot start construction (a bathhouse, a farm, a house) - the buildings will burn down. This also applies to renovation work.
Do not plant new garden plants. Concerns related to the earth attract major troubles to the owner.
You can't talk about your plans. The sideways, envious Kasyan will definitely jinx all undertakings.
It is dangerous to go on long journeys during the deadly Kasyanov time.
You cannot give/sell animals from home - the animals will take wealth and good luck with them.
Postpone setting up a new business or investment financial resources for next year, favorable and safe in plans.
It was not recommended to change jobs. You won’t stay long in your new place, and your colleagues will begin to substitute the “fresh” employee.
Even changing the hairstyle or hair color was not recommended in Kasyan’s time, who “cut down at the root” all his undertakings.

The ancestors said that undertakings in Cassian's time were useless. A person will not see any successes, but debts, enemies and failures in everything will come. Even carols, a favorite winter pastime, were postponed until next year so as not to attract the attention of evil spirits.

You can't pick mushrooms

Bad times are everywhere in Kasyanovo. Cities, villages and forests are suffering. Mushrooms are saturated with negative energy, filled with damage, the evil eye, and poison. Mushrooms collected in a leap year are poisonous! This is what the people think, and not without reason.

The mycelium degenerates every four years. This feature of biology affects taste qualities mushrooms Degenerating, mushrooms absorb toxic substances and become unsafe for health.

You can collect mushrooms, but from artificially created myceliums. They are not dangerous and obey different laws. But superstitious people should still take care of their nerves, especially in Kasyanovo time.

Prayers and charms

If you read ancient testaments. Trust the experience of time, use special prayers and incantations that will protect your life during Kasyan’s reign. Protective words will ward off troubles and misfortunes.

Prayer on the eve of a leap year. Say protective words on December 31 (10 minutes before Kasyan’s time arrives):

“The horseman gallops, the man walks. The times bring me success. I will put on holy clothes and be baptized with the good cross. I will turn away from the previous year and see the leap year. I meet Kasyan - he doesn’t dig a hole for me.”

Read the following prayer incantation at the end of the year (at night from December 30 to 31). Prayer will protect against the transfer of disasters from the leap year to the coming year:

“Holy cherubim, annual seraphim, do not give God’s word, protect with a bright deed. From Kasyan leaving in a new year coming. Do not allow the servants of the Lord (names of family members) neither black evil spirits, nor envious people, nor bitter tears, nor painful ailments. Twelve angels protect the servants of God (names). The word is persistent, light for the year.”

For money. So that Cassian doesn't touch financial well-being, take 29 coins, on the last day of December, wrap the coins in red satin material and put them where you keep the money. On February 29, say: “Grow, multiply, Kasyana, do not worry.” With this money, buy bread or a roll and eat it with your family.

For good luck February 29th. On the demonic day of a long year, stand next to the window and say: “As the sun shone, so luck came to me. The other day was a separate, magical, unfamiliar day. The attack does not know about this day, only the mighty one answers. The day will come and it will only bring joy.” After reading the plot, open the window. If everything is done correctly, your luck will not run out during a leap year.

From death. To deadly danger passed your family by in a “terrible” time, do the following. At the sound of a thunderstorm, cross your finger over your finger and say: “My family is with me. They are all nearby, we will always be together. Kasyan, go away, don’t call anyone.” Say these words during a thunderstorm, during thunderclaps.

On the road. If you are leaving somewhere in Cassian time, before leaving home, read the protective words: “I’m going and riding along the leap trail. I bow to Kasyan, I left/left home, and I will return here.” The conspiracy is pronounced in the house without crossing the threshold. You should always say it as soon as you leave (to work, to the store, on a visit, for a walk).

From illness. If during an “unlucky” time you or your loved ones get sick, read the following hex over them every day until complete recovery: “Unclean spirits, commotion! Forget the servant of God (name), go into the impassable thicket, bury yourself under a rotten stump. Otherwise I’ll unleash the terrible Cassian on you, so that he crushes you, burns you with flames, and doesn’t allow you to rest.”

How to protect yourself from troubles

According to ordinary people, a leap year is no different from a regular year, only with an additional day. This time does not affect a person. But, given that most people believe in popular beliefs, in Kasyanovo time it is better to protect yourself just in case.

Esotericists say that it is imperative to take care for the year of Cassian. This is the time when the dark essence manifests itself and increases its strength. During a leap year, there is a high probability of suffering from a surge of negative energy. To protect yourself from problems, use the following rules:

Go to church/temple more often. When you come to a sacred place, pray for yourself, light candles for the health of your loved ones, not forgetting to remember the departed.
Do not pick up round objects (coins, rings) for a leap year.
Protect yourself from the evil eye. Best helpers these are protective talismans, pectoral crosses. Don't forget to wear protective items at all times!
Wash off the accumulated negative energy. To do this, dilute vinegar and boiled water in equal proportions. Douse yourself with vinegar liquid before going to bed. After the procedure, wash your body with running water and wait for it to dry naturally.
On February 29, perform a ritual to protect the energy field. Tear out the February page from the calendar and burn the leaf, saying the following words: “Go away evil, disappear dashingly, help good, illuminate a clear path and a bright path for me.”

Interesting fact. In villages, it was customary to give neighbors the third slaughtered goose (or other bird). In this way, during the Kasyan hard times, villagers bought themselves off from lack of money and bad luck.

Psychologists' opinion

“Your problems are your own head,” psychologists say. How you set yourself up is how you will live the leap year. Understand that “unlucky” times are scary in their own way. A positive attitude and optimistic life position have always yielded positive results.

If you are afraid of trouble, illness for the year of Kasyan, this will definitely happen to you. A personal attitude will work on a subconscious level.

What to recommend during a leap year? Live like the rest of the time. Without getting hung up on ancient superstitions and ancient signs. You create your own life. Only you are its owner. Don’t let negative thoughts come to you, get carried away with something so that you don’t have free time. You won’t even notice how a time will flash by - no less successful and positive than the rest.

Astrologers' forecasts

Star experts support the views of psychologists. Fears, worries associated with the Year of Kasya - prejudices, signs and superstitions. Remember Olympic Games which were created by the Greeks. Competitions are held during leap times. Prosperous America also elects presidents in a “long” year.

According to the location of the stars, leap years are, from an astrological point of view, the most favorable for improving human destiny.

At this time, the planets fold in such a way that they create temporary corridors for humans. In Cassian's time, every person is capable of changing and improving the future. There are all the prerequisites for this. Know how to catch the signs that the providence of Kasyanov’s time sends you.

Which statement and whose advice to remember is up to you to decide. The only universal action for taming the luck of a “terrible” year is maintaining personal optimistic mood. How you live Kasyan's time: good or bad, depends on you. And you can make this year positive with the help of boundless faith in your own strength.

sharky:
03/25/2013 at 16:04

Why on earth is 1900 not a leap year? A leap year occurs every 4 years, i.e. If it is divisible by 4, it is a leap year. And no more divisions by 100 or 400 are needed.

It’s normal to ask questions, but before you assert anything, study the hardware. The Earth revolves around the sun in 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes 46 seconds. As you can see, the remainder is not exactly 6 hours, but 11 minutes 14 seconds less. This means that by making a leap year we add extra time. Somewhere over 128 years, extra days accumulate. Therefore, every 128 years in one of the 4 summer cycles There is no need to make a leap year to get rid of these extra days. But to simplify things, every 100th year is not a leap year. Is the idea clear? Fine. What then should we do next, since an extra day is added every 128 years, and we cut it off every 100 years? Yes, we cut off more than we should, and this needs to be returned at some point.

If the first paragraph is clear and still interesting, then read on, but it will be more difficult.

So, in 100 years, 100/128 = 25/32 days of excess time accumulates (that’s 18 hours 45 minutes). We do not make a leap year, that is, we subtract one day: we get 25/32-32/32 = -7/32 days (that’s 5 hours 15 minutes), that is, we subtract the excess. After four cycles of 100 years (after 400 years), we will subtract an extra 4 * (-7/32) = -28/32 days (this is minus 21 hours). For the 400th year we make a leap year, that is, we add a day (24 hours): -28/32+32/32=4/32=1/8 (that’s 3 hours).
We make every 4th year a leap year, but at the same time every 100th year is not a leap year, and at the same time every 400th year is a leap year, but still every 400 years an extra 3 hours are added. After 8 cycles of 400 years, that is, after 3200 years, an extra 24 hours will accumulate, that is, one day. Then another mandatory condition is added: every 3200th year should not be a leap year. 3200 years can be rounded up to 4000, but then you will again have to play with added or trimmed days.
3200 years have not passed, so this condition, if it is made this way, is not yet talked about. But 400 years have already passed since the approval of the Gregorian calendar.
Years that are multiples of 400 are always leap years (for now), other years that are multiples of 100 are not leap years, and other years that are multiples of 4 are leap years.

The calculation I gave shows that in the current state, an error in one day will accumulate over 3200 years, but here’s what Wikipedia writes about it:
“An error of one day compared to the year of the equinoxes in the Gregorian calendar will accumulate in approximately 10,000 years (in the Julian calendar - approximately in 128 years). A frequently encountered estimate, leading to a value of the order of 3000 years, is obtained if one does not take into account that the number of days in the tropical year changes over time and, in addition, the relationship between the lengths of the seasons changes.” From the same Wikipedia, the formula for the length of a year in days with fractions paints a good picture:

365,2425=365+0,25-0,01+0,0025=265+1/4-1/100+1/400

The year 1900 was not a leap year, but 2000 was, and special, because such a leap year happens once every 400 years.

There are many superstitions about certain events. A leap year is a year whose duration is 366 days instead of the usual 365. It would seem that they change one additional day, but esotericists attribute them mystical properties. Accidents and troubles that happen are why a leap year is considered bad.

A little history

Since ancient times, people have been surrounded by various superstitions. Even during pagan times, time was perceived as a good and bad phenomenon. If it was a period of change, then the changes were considered to be influenced by evil. Sacred meaning endowed the last day of winter:

transition to summer;
the beginning of a new agricultural cycle;
the end of the old one.

The Slavs celebrated New Year March 1 and even the periods lived were counted according to “spring”: it’s not for nothing that “peers” are people born in the same year.

The last day of winter is the most dangerous. From a mythological point of view, winter lengthens every four years and on February 29 receives special mystical rights. In people's perception, the entire period becomes unfavorable. It is believed that at this time there is a massive pestilence of livestock, wars, epidemics and other troubles.

The situation did not change with the advent of Christianity. St. Kasyan's Day was celebrated on February 29. People transferred their prejudices to him and represented him as angry, envious and harmful person. They endowed his appearance with deformities. Special signs appeared: “Wherever Kasyan looks, everything withers” and others. To avoid misfortune, people tried not to leave their houses and not let their livestock out.

Representations in the modern world

Today people are no less susceptible to various superstitions. Many well-known predictors make various warnings about the upcoming leap year. Possible list of incidents:

disasters;
natural disasters;
disasters.

If we look at world history, we can find ample evidence of the dangers of leap periods. So in 2000, there was a fire on the TV tower, the Kursk submarine sank and an airliner crashed near Paris.

It is not recommended to propose marriage this year. Any new beginnings will end in failure. This also applies to marriage. There is a popular belief that anyone who gets married in the year of Kasyan will definitely become a widower. Few people know whether it is possible to get divorced during a leap year. This is not recommended, as the person will be unhappy in the new relationship or will remain lonely.

Violations geomagnetic conditions and the homeostatic field - that's why leap year is difficult. This affects sensitive people, and they may experience aggression or fatigue.

Behavior rules

During a leap year, you should adhere to certain prohibitions. This will avoid many problems. Troubles are easier to prevent.

A change of place of residence threatens the disruption of all plans and the appearance of obstacles - that’s why you can’t move during a leap year. Experienced magicians do not advise starting to build housing, as this will certainly end in an accident. Buying real estate will not bring results. A person will only lose money and time. Moving will also bring Negative consequences. Selling the apartment or renovating it is also not worth it. Any changes will turn against a person: low-quality materials, the appearance of scammers, etc.

Some people wonder whether it is possible to buy a car during a leap year. Experienced magicians do not advise doing this. It's all about Kasyan. He patronizes envious people and evil people, they can ruin your purchase.

The hardest thing about having children is that you can’t order them not to show up at a certain time. People have an ambiguous opinion about those born at such a time. Some consider such children to be chosen and talented, others to be unhappy and with a difficult fate.

Those born on February 29 appear with the gift of a sorcerer or witch. They are connected with the other world. Because of their special gift of foreseeing the future, people avoid meeting them.

Pregnant women should not cut their hair until after childbirth - this protects the baby from misfortunes and diseases. You should not celebrate the appearance of your child’s first tooth, otherwise they will be crooked and sick. Those born in Kasyanovo time need to be baptized quickly.

Ways to protect yourself from trouble

A well-chosen talisman will protect against the evil eye. Regular showers before bed wash away negative energy. You must wear a cross.

You can pay off the lack of money by giving away the third one killed (in reality modern world- bought) bird for a neighbor. So Kasyan receives a kind of sacrifice.

2016 is a leap year with 366 days instead of the usual 365. Leap year was proposed to synchronize calendars. Did you know that not every 4th year is a leap year?Why is a leap year considered unlucky, and what signs are associated with it?Here are a few facts you may not know about leap year.

What does leap year mean?

1 . A leap year is a year that has 366 days rather than the usual 365. An additional day in a leap year is added in February - February 29 (leap day).

An additional day in a leap year is necessary because a full revolution around the Sun takes a little more than 365 days, or rather 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds.

People once followed a 355-day calendar with an additional 22-day month every two years. But in 45 BC. Julius Caesar, together with the astronomer Sosigenes, decided to simplify the situation, and the Julian 365-day calendar was developed, with an extra day every 4 years to compensate for the extra hours.

This day was added in February as it was once last months in the Roman calendar.

2 . This system was supplemented by Pope Gregory XIII (who introduced the Gregorian calendar), who coined the term "leap year" and declared that year, multiple of 4 and multiple of 400, but not multiple of 100, is a leap year.

So on Gregorian calendar 2000 was a leap year, but 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not.

What are leap years in the 20th and 21st centuries?

1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028, 2032, 2036, 2040, 2044, 2048, 2052, 2056, 2060, 2064, 2068, 2072, 2076, 2080, 2084, 2088, 2092, 2096

February 29 is leap day

3 . February 29 is considered the only day when a woman can propose marriage to a man. This tradition began in 5th century Ireland when St. Brigid complained to St. Patrick that women had to wait too long for suitors to propose.

Then he gave women one day in a leap year - the last day in the very in a short month so that the fair sex can propose to a man.

According to legend, Brigitte immediately knelt down and proposed to Patrick, but he refused, kissing her on the cheek and offering her a silk dress to soften her refusal.

4 . According to another version, this tradition appeared in Scotland, when Queen Margaret, at the age of 5, announced in 1288 that a woman could propose to any man she liked on February 29.

She also made a rule that those who refused had to pay a fine in the form of a kiss, a silk dress, a pair of gloves or money. To warn suitors in advance, the woman was required to wear trousers or a red petticoat on the day of the proposal.

In Denmark, a man who refuses a woman's marriage proposal must provide her with 12 pairs of gloves, and in Finland - fabric for a skirt.

Leap year wedding

5 . One in five couples in Greece avoid getting married on a leap year, as it is believed to brings bad luck.

In Italy it is believed that during a leap year the woman becomes unpredictable and at this time there is no need to plan important events. So, according to the Italian proverb "Anno bisesto, anno funesto". (“A leap year is a doomed year”).

Born on February 29

6 . The chances of being born on February 29th are 1 in 1461. Around the world, about 5 million people were born on Leap Day.

7 . For many centuries, astrologers believed that Children born on Leap Day have unusual talents, a unique personality and even special powers. Among famous people Those born on February 29 can name the poet Lord Byron, composer Gioachino Rossini, actress Irina Kupchenko.

8. In Hong Kong, the official birthday for those born on February 29 is considered to be March 1 normal years, and in New Zealand - February 28. If you time it correctly, you can celebrate while traveling from one country to another longest birthday in the world.

9. The city of Anthony in Texas, USA is a self-proclaimed " world capital of leap year". A festival is held here every year, where those born on February 29 gather from all over the world.

10. Record the largest number generations born on leap day, belongs to the Keogh family.

Peter Anthony Keogh was born on February 29, 1940 in Ireland, his son Peter Eric was born on February 29, 1964 in the UK, and his granddaughter Bethany Wealth was born on February 29, 1996.

11. Karin Henriksen from Norway holds the world record the largest number of children born on leap day.

Her daughter Heidi was born on February 29, 1960, son Olav on February 29, 1964, and son Lief-Martin on February 29, 1968.

12. In the traditional Chinese, Jewish and ancient Indian calendars, not a leap day is added to the year, but a whole month. It is called the "intercalary month." It is believed that children born in a leap month are more difficult to raise. In addition, it is considered unlucky to start serious business during a leap year.

Leap year: signs and superstitions

Since ancient times, a leap year has always been considered difficult and bad for many undertakings. IN folk beliefs Leap year is associated with Saint Kasyan, who was considered evil, envious, stingy, unmerciful and brought misfortune to people.

According to legend, Kasyan was a bright angel to whom God trusted all plans and intentions. But then he went over to the side of the Devil, telling him that God intended to overthrow all satanic power from heaven.

For his betrayal, God punished Kasyan by ordering him to be beaten on the forehead with a hammer for three years, and in the fourth year to be released to earth, where he committed unkind deeds.

There are many signs associated with leap year:

Firstly, on a leap year you can't start anything. This applies to important matters, business, major purchases, investments and construction.

Is it possible to get married on a leap year?

Leap year is considered extremely unsuccessful for marriage. Since ancient times, it was believed that a wedding played in a leap year would lead to an unhappy marriage, divorce, infidelity, widowhood, or the marriage itself would be short-lived.

This superstition may be due to the fact that in a leap year, girls could woo anyone they liked young man, who could not refuse the offer. Often such marriages were forced, and therefore family life didn't ask.

However, you should treat these signs wisely and understand that everything depends on the spouses themselves and on how they build the relationship. If you do plan a wedding, there are several ways to mitigate the “consequences”:

Brides are advised to wear long dress for a wedding, covering the knees to make the marriage last.

Wedding dress and other wedding accessories It is not recommended to give it to anyone.

The ring should be worn on the hand, not the glove., since wearing a ring on a glove will lead to the spouses being frivolous about marriage

To protect the family from troubles and misfortunes, a coin was placed in the shoes of the bride and groom.

What should you not do during a leap year?

· During a leap year don't carol at Christmas time, since it is believed that you can lose your happiness. Also, by sign, a caroler who dresses up as an animal or monster can take on the personality evil spirits.

· Pregnant women should not have their hair cut before giving birth, since the child may be born unhealthy.

· During a leap year do not start building a bathhouse, which can lead to illness.

· You can't pick mushrooms, as it is believed that they all become poisonous.

· In a leap year there is no need to celebrate the appearance baby's first tooth. According to legend, if you invite guests, your teeth will be bad.

· You can't change jobs or apartments. According to the sign, the new place will turn out to be bleak and restless.

· If a child is born on a leap year, it must be baptize as quickly as possible, and choose godparents among blood relatives.

· Elderly people are not allowed buy things for the funeral in advance, as this can bring death closer.

· You can't get a divorce, because in the future you will not be able to find your happiness.