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Explanation: In 46 BC Julius Caesar reformed the calendar system. Based on advice by astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria, the Julian calendar included one leap day every four years to account for the fact that an Earth year is slightly more than 365 days long. In modern terms, the time it takes for the planet to orbit the Sun once is 365.24219 mean solar days. So if calendar years contained exactly 365 days they would drift from the Earth's year by about 1 day every 4 years and eventually July (named for Julius Caesar himself) would occur during the northern hemisphere...

The Irish can be a romantic bunch and every four years, there is a day for roles to reverse and for women to take charge of their romantic destiny. In Irish tradition, February 29, AKA Leap Day, is the day when women can propose to men. But why is the tradition so? Why do women propose on Leap Day, which is also known as Batchelor's Day or Ladies Privilege? Like many Irish traditions, this one has its origins in Irish folklore. Ladies who are planning to propose on Leap Day (February 29) have St Brigid to thank for the tradition.

Nearly every four years, we add an extra day to the calendar in the form of February 29, also known as Leap Day. Put simply, these additional 24 hours are built into the calendar to ensure that it stays in line with the Earth’s movement around the sun. While the modern calendar contains 365 days, the actual time it takes for Earth to orbit its star is slightly longer—roughly 365.2421 days. The difference might seem negligible, but over decades and centuries that missing quarter of a day per year can add up. To ensure consistency with the true astronomical year,...

Insight: Obama's North Korean leap of faith turns to ashes 2:39am EDT By Andrew Quinn WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When U.S. diplomats filed into North Korea's grim embassy in Beijing last month they found an unlikely surprise: Starbucks. Their hosts, led by North Korean's chief nuclear negotiator Kim Kye-gwan, had ordered U.S.-style coffee for talks both sides hoped would lead to new negotiations on Pyongyang's nuclear program and to resumed U.S. food shipments to one of the most feared and secretive countries in the world. There were more surprises to come. Five days later, the United States and North Korea simultaneously...

Women Can Take Leap And Propose On Feb. 29 By CAROLYN RUSHEFSKY   Billy and Diana Sparkle say it is OK for the woman to go for it and propose to her man during this leap year month. (Photo by Jan Somma-Hammel)     NEW YORK — Bachelors beware: This is leap year, when, according to legend, women can leap into marriage by proposing to the man of their choice on Feb. 29.According to a law allegedly decreed in 1288 by Queen Margaret of Scotland, any gentleman who refused a damsel's marriage proposal was subject to a fine.Nowadays, a bachelor...

Leap Day makes for a unique birthdayToday is Leap Day, Feb. 29, 2004--a day that is significant because of its rarity. Leap Day only happens every four year and because it does not occur on our calendar that often, you can imagine how unusual it is for someone who was born on Leap Day.Some local individuals will be celebrating their birthdays today. Tori Rae Gonzalez will celebrate her first calendar-year birthday. She will celebrate four years of life with a Care Bear party. She is the daughter of James Gonzalez and Janine Fuqua of Sweet-water. James works at B-line Lube...