SPOKANE, Wash. – Every four years, the special extra day rolls around, and we celebrate leap day. But do you know why we have the extra day?
One significant reason for observing leap day is to maintain the correct sequence of our annual events, according to AP reports.
The scientific reason we observe leap year is related to the orbit of the planets. In a typical 365-day orbit, there is an additional six hours that occur in the orbit, going unaccounted for each year, as reported by NASA.
The extra day in leap year ensures that seasons, events, solstices, and holidays all remain in their rightful places throughout the year.
Without leap year, we would find summer ending up in December, and Christmas might be celebrated in July.
While the idea of a sunny Christmas might sound nice, it would also impact farming and food production.
The next leap year won’t be observed until 2028, so be sure to celebrate the day, as well as those who happen to celebrate their birthday only once every four years.
