Leap Day 2024

Every four years, our calendar presents us with an extra day, known as Leap Day. This day falls on the last day of February and is written as 29th February. A year with a Leap Day is called a Leap Year and it has 366 days.

The calendar that we use is based on the time the earth takes to revolve around the sun, which is almost 365 days and 6 hours. As we celebrate the New Year on the end of the 365th day, the remaining 6 hours add up to one extra day. This extra day is added every four years. If Leap Day were not celebrated, the seasons and the calendar would slowly get mixed up, making things confusing.

People born on Leap days are called Leaplings. A town in the USA, named Anthony is called the “Leap Year Capital of the World.” It hosts a festival every Leap Year to celebrate this unique day. The last Leap Day occurred in 2020, and the next will arrive in 2028.