When does leap year occur? What is a leap year and how does it differ from a regular year?

Every person has heard about the existence of a leap year. But few people know where this name came from, and how humanity has a certain limit of time, which in the future could be a whole year. Why leap years of the 21st century are considered unlucky and how they can be determined will be described in this review.

The generally accepted unit of time is the year.

During this period of time, the full seasonal cycle goes through:

• spring;
• summer;
• autumn;
• winter.

It is during this period of time that the Earth makes a complete revolution around the star the Sun. This action takes 365 full days and 6 hours. This time period is called the astronomical year. One day contains 24 hours. From the “extra” 6 hours of each year, an additional day is accumulated, falling every fourth year. This day falls on February 29th.

Important! Having a 29th day in February makes the year a leap year.

By its name unusual year owes to the Latin language, from which “Bicsextus” is literally translated as “second sixth”. In the Julian calendar, the “extra” number was the second 24. And since February was the last month of the year according to Caesar’s calendar, the extra day was added to it.

Julian and Gregorian calendars

Since the beginning of world history, humanity has known two types of calendars:

• Julian;
• Gregorian.

Starting from January 1, 45 BC, civilized humanity lived according to the Julian calendar, which was founded by Gaius Julius Caesar. According to this calendar, every third year was followed by a long year with 366 days.

The Romans believed that it took 365.25 days to complete a revolution of the planet around a celestial body, while exact date is 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes 46 seconds. It turns out that every year between the two equinoxes there is a difference of 11 minutes and 14 seconds.

Thus, over 128 years, one day has accumulated from these minutes, and over 16 centuries this figure has increased to 10. Under the Julian calendar, a leap year was considered to be any that was divisible by 100 or 200.

This continued until 1582, when the then-current Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar, where not only every fourth year is a leap year, but even one that is a multiple of 400. This, for example, was 2000.

One of the reasons why it was decided to change the calendar was Christian holidays, which were required to be celebrated at a certain time without shifting. Thus, Catholic Pope Gregory XIII proposed his own calendar, which was approved and adopted during the Ecumenical Council.

Answering the question of how to determine a leap year without having a table at hand, every second even year of the Gregorian calendar should be considered as such.

Since 1918, residents of our country began to use Gregorian calendar. Since the transition to the Gregorian style, there has been a confusion of dates by 10 days, although still, the difference between the Gregorian and Julian calendars increases by 3 days every four centuries.

Leap years calendar

To know for sure and not wonder how to determine a leap year, you need to take into account this sign - the number of the year is divisible by 4, 100 and 400 without a remainder. If the number is divisible by 4,100, but not divisible by 400, then the year is not a leap year. Taking this information into account, you can easily determine the required years.

The reason for the bad fame of leap year

It must be admitted that if we did not have leap years, the seasons would regularly shift. Therefore they help to synchronize Gregorian and astrological calendars, and not allow the seasons to shift to other months.

But why a leap year is considered bad, you need to figure it out. Slavic culture has long had a negative attitude towards such years. An extra day in February was considered the cause of disasters and troubles.

Perhaps the reason for such dislike was that this time, February 29, according to Slavic beliefs, is subject to Kashchei-Chernobog, who commanded dark forces, sowing evil, death, disease and madness.

Often the ancient Russians associated leap day with Cassian, who was born on February 29th. Based on the legends, where he was assigned the role of a guard at the gates of Hell, a traitor cherub, a pupil of demons, etc., one can understand why this character was greatly feared and strongly cursed. The Russians were sure that Cassian had a negative impact on the whole year. There was a pestilence of livestock and poultry, crops in the fields were destroyed, and famine set in.

On February 29, people tried not to go out into the yard and keep their livestock and poultry locked up.

It is difficult to definitively answer why a leap year is considered bad. Some scientists claim that natural disasters and man-made disasters become more frequent during this period of time. Many individuals also rush to write off their individual troubles as just over a year later.

Historical facts are the following tragic events:

• collapse Byzantine Empire and the city of Constantinople falls on the leap year 1204;
• in 1232 the bloody Spanish Inquisition began;
• pestilence of inhabitants medieval Europe from the plague, which killed 1/3 of the population in 1400;
• the terrible events of St. Bartholomew's Night in 1572;
• the terrible tsunami in Japan in 1896 and the earthquake in China in 1556;
• in 1908 everyone knew about the fall of the Tunguska meteorite, etc.

This list can be continued for a long time. These are the statistics that support most of folk beliefs, superstitions and signs.

Good to know! Those newlyweds who dared to celebrate their wedding in a leap year were predicted to have a difficult family life.

List of leap years in the 21st century

In order to plan important events in your life, such as marriage, birth of children, change of profession, place of residence, etc., information about which leap years are in this century will be useful.

Leap years, list in the 20th century: 1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996.

Leap years in our century: 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028, 2032, 2036, 2040, 2044, 2048, 2052, 2056, 2060, 2064, 2068, 2076, 2080, 2084, 2088, 2092, 2096, 2100.

It is generally accepted that all years from February 29th bring troubles and are marked by tragic events. But, taking into account the information received, we can conclude that you should not pay too much attention to signs. Bad events and disasters happened at different times.

Some people, on the contrary, attribute leap year mystical properties, and wonder why he is considered bad.

People born on February 29 consider themselves to be certain lucky and original people. They can celebrate their birthday only once every 4 years.

Useful video

Let's sum it up

Positive attitude and faith in own strength form a powerful basis for important achievements in a person’s life, and small superstitions should not become an obstacle to achieving goals.

A leap year occurs once every four years. But why then was 1904 a leap year, 1900 was not, and 2000 was again?

The Summer Olympics are held in a leap year - where did this order come from? And why do we need any special “extended” years at all? How are they different from ordinary ones? Let's figure it out.

Who introduced leap years into the calendar?

Ancient Roman astronomers were well aware that a year on Earth lasts 365 days and a few more hours. Because of this calendar year, which then consisted of a constant number of days, did not coincide with the astronomical one. The excess hours gradually accumulated, turning into days. Calendar dates gradually shifted and deviated from natural phenomena such as the equinoxes. A group of astronomers led by Sosigenes, who worked at the court of Julius Caesar, proposed adjusting the calendar. According to the new chronology, every fourth year was extended by one day. This year began to be called bis sextus, which in Latin means "second sixth" . In Russian this word was transformed into "leap" - that’s what we call it to this day.

By order of Julius Caesar, a new calendar was introduced starting in 45 BC. After the death of the emperor, there was a glitch in the calculation of leap years, and the countdown began again from the 8th year of our era. That's why even years are leap years today.

It was decided to add a day to the last, shortest month of the year, which already “didn’t have enough days.” IN Ancient Rome New Year was celebrated on March 1, so the extra 366th day was added to February. The new calendar began to be called “Julian” in honor of Caesar. By the way, the Orthodox and some other churches still live according to the Julian calendar - this is a tribute to tradition.

And again the calendar changes

Astronomical observations continued, the methods became more and more precise. Over time, astrologers realized that the duration of the earth's year is not 365 days and 6 hours, but slightly less. (We now know that a year lasts 365 days, 5 hours, 48 ​​minutes and 46 seconds.)


The use of the Julian calendar led to the fact that the calendar began to lag behind the real flow of time. Astronomers have noticed that the spring equinox occurs much earlier than the day allotted to it according to the calendar, that is, March 21. There was a need to adjust the calendar, which was done by decree of Pope Gregory XIII in 1582.

To compensate for the discrepancy, they decided to set leap years according to a new rule. It was necessary to reduce their number, which was done. From that moment on, all years that are divisible by four are still considered leap years, except those that are divisible by 100. For even more accurate calculation, years that are divisible by 400 are still considered leap years.

That is why 1900 (like 1700 and 1800) was not a leap year, but 2000 (like 1600) was.

The new calendar was named Gregorian in honor of the Pope - all countries of the world currently live according to it. Julian calendar enjoys a number Christian churches– including the Russian Orthodox Church.

Rule for determining leap years

So, leap years are determined by simple algorithm:

If a year is divisible by 4 but not divisible by 100, it is a leap year;

If a year is divisible by 100, it is not considered a leap year;

If a year is divisible by 100 and also divisible by 400, it is a leap year.

How is a leap year different from others?

Only one - it has 366 days, with an additional day assigned to February. Despite the fact that the year now begins on January 1, which means the last month of the year is December, we still give an extra day to February. He's the shortest - we'll feel sorry for him!

And let's rejoice for those who were born on February 29 in a leap year. These “lucky ones” celebrate their birthday once every four years, which makes this event more long-awaited and desirable than for other people.

What happens during a leap year?

Leap years were chosen to host the main sporting event of mankind - the Olympics. Now in leap years only summer games, and winter ones - with a shift of two years. The sports community adheres to ancient tradition, which was established by the first Olympians - the ancient Greeks.


It was they who decided that such a grandiose event should not happen too often - once every four years. The four-year cycle coincided with the alternation of leap years, so the modern Olympics began to be held in leap years.

For most people who believe in omens, it is very important to know in advance all the most important information about some time period. In particular, this concerns the leap year of a particular year, since some warnings are associated with this situation. According to popular interpretation, it is during periods lasting not the usual 365, but 366 days, that one should be wary of various disasters, conflicts, wars and other misfortunes. This is probably why the question of whether 2019 is a leap year or not is considered so relevant.

Leap year concept

Anyone who truly believes in the destructive power of an extra day in February can breathe a sigh of relief - 2019 consists of a standard number of days (365).

For the first time, the very concept of a leap year appeared in the time of Julius Caesar. The great ruler ordered that the best astronomers of that time introduce the concept of the astronomical year and determine the number of days of which it consists. After some time, the result was ready - a year is formed from 365 days and 6 additional hours. It turns out that each subsequent period had to move forward 6 hours. To solve the problem of aligning time frames, it was decided to introduce the concept of a leap year - a period of time in which there will be 1 day more than in a standard year. Caesar liked this idea, and since then every fourth year has been considered “special.”

Since the last leap year was 2016, next time the same fate awaits 2020. On the one hand, there can be nothing wrong with an additional 24 hours a year, but on the other hand, it is impossible to imagine such a vast number of superstitions invented out of nowhere. What lies behind all these instructions and is it worth believing in them at all?

Signs about leap year

If we consider the situation from a logical point of view, the noted time period differs from the typical one by only 1 additional day. Among the people, such an outcome is highly regarded. important. Previously, February 29 was called Kasyan's day - an unlucky day when various troubles happen to a person.

According to popular beliefs, you can’t start something new during a leap year, because you still won’t achieve the desired result. Any novelty in a given year becomes the cause of a negative outcome and adversity. In fact, during the 366-day period, you should not plan a wedding, move, change jobs, or even have pets. It is recommended to postpone this entire list of tasks until next year. Also, at this hour you should not start construction, go on long trips and cut your hair during pregnancy until the birth itself.

In fact, everyone decides for themselves whether to believe in the listed warnings. You shouldn’t take all the signs too seriously either, otherwise you’ll have to “walk on tiptoe” every 4 years of your life. It’s just that earlier, when people could not explain the cause of some cataclysm or misfortune, the leap year became the main culprit of all troubles. In reality, disasters happen all the time, don't they?

Leap year wedding

A separate topic for discussion is the ban on marriage in a year consisting of 366 days. According to signs, such a union will 100% turn out to be unhappy and will definitely fall apart in the future. For this reason, most modern couples who decide to legalize their relationship delay this process until a more standard time period.

In fact, such a sign is too contradictory. In the old days, leap year was called the period of brides. According to ancient custom, the girls had the opportunity to woo the guy they liked, and the most interesting thing was that he couldn’t refuse. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the most inconspicuous brides chose as their grooms the most wealthy and prominent gentlemen, with whom they were usually secretly in love. It was precisely because of the couple’s inequality that such unions very soon fell apart, since there was no happiness at all. Therefore, the belief arose that getting married during a leap year is a bad idea.

The clergy conducting the wedding ceremony insist that the well-being of the couple depends entirely on the newlyweds themselves. And neither Which a leap year or a wedding at the wrong time cannot disturb the harmony between the future spouses, if such exists.

What should we expect from 2019?

Since the period being described is not a leap year, even those who firmly believe in the signs associated with this time can breathe a sigh of relief - the coming 12 months will pass in relative calm. According to astrologers, in 2019 it will be possible to settle many conflict situations, finally say goodbye to the crisis, and establish new contacts. This is connected with the mistress of the described period – the Yellow Pig, who is a symbol of friendliness, joy, tranquility and prudence.

In the love sphere, 2019 is considered an excellent period for starting a family, having a child, establishing a romantic connection or restoring friendships. Many lonely hearts will have a chance to find their destiny and find long-awaited happiness.

The stars indicate that 2019 is considered an ideal period to start your own business or advance in career ladder. The pig symbolizes self-confidence, determination and endless hope for the best. Those who demonstrate the noted qualities will be guaranteed good luck for the whole year. Many will be able to realize their own potential and reach their intended peaks. True, it should be understood that sooner or later the time will come when you will have to answer for every decision made, whatever it may be.

2019 will not be significantly different from 2018 or 2017, because it has a standard number of days - 365. Simply put, in the period described, you can safely get married, move to a new place of residence, travel, host non-standard solutions and not be afraid of bad influences from outside. A small clarification - every year, whether it is a leap year or not, brings with it not only joy and carefreeness, but also life’s adversities and difficulties. To cope with any adversity, it is enough to always remain in good location spirit and illuminate this world with a radiant smile.

How many days are there in a leap year?

Once every four years we observe an interesting calendar phenomenon. It is customary for us to count 365 days every year, but once every four years we count 366 days. This has happened historically, since 45 BC, when a Roman dictator named Gaius Julius Caesar created the calendar. Later, such a calendar began to be called the Julian.

The history of the leap year.

The new calendar of Gaius Julius Caesar began on January 1, 45 BC. Astronomers of that time calculated the exact number of days during which the Earth completely goes through a cycle called a year. The exact number of days was 365.25. In other words, there were 365 full days and 6 hours in a year. Since it was inconvenient to count less than a full day, we decided to introduce a special one to even out the balance.

Three years in a row are counted as 365 days, and in each subsequent fourth year 24 hours are added (6 hours in 4 years) in February. Thus, a new day of February appeared, only one, appearing every four years. This month was not chosen by chance. It was considered the last Roman month of the year. The year 45 BC became the first leap year.

The current year 2016 is a leap year. The next one will be in 2020, then in 2024, etc.

Signs of a leap year.

Since ancient times, a year in which there are one day more than in other years was considered significant and even difficult. Some events were associated with it; it was believed that if in this particular year winter is a day longer, it means that this year affects the human body in a special way.

Leap year signs which many people are scared of, is actually not that scary. The human body is not designed for changes in the calendar and numbers. More like a man risks being influenced by the location of the planets, moon and other external factors affecting the person as a whole.

Among the signs that many people have during this long year, the main ones are prohibitions on various buildings.

Leap year: what not to do?

Many of us are interested in what cannot be done on a leap year. Among these activities are:

• caroling,
• make real estate transactions,
• divorce.

It is not recommended to travel far, and if this happens, it is advised to say certain prayers. All this, of course, has nothing to do with religion, so if the soul asks for prayer, it is better to pray without any signs.

Leap year is not a big deal.

A year like this can bring a person many wonderful moments. In leap years, such great figures of art and culture were born as: M. Glinka, I. Strauss, L. Tolstoy, I. Goncharov, as well as modern actors: K. Diaz, K. Khabensky, T. Hanks.

1708
Peter issues a decree on the foundation of the Biysk fortress

1784
Leo von Klenze, the founder of architectural movements based on the principle of “new - slightly rebuilt antique”, was born. And the Marquis de Sade was transferred to the Bastille, where in five years he would write three of his most famous and shocking novels.

1792
Gioachino Rossini is born.

1812
Napoleon appoints commanders in his army. Alexander I is considering a gas lighting project in the capital of his empire.

1816
Grand Duchess gets married - of course, to a prince. Russian Emperor cares about widows and the country's legislation.

1828
The premiere of Ober's opera “The Mute of Portici” (or “Fenella”) took place.

1832
Charles Darwin explores the Brazilian jungle during the Beagle expedition.

1856
The Crimean War is over.

1860
Herman Cholerite was born.

1880
The St. Gotthard Tunnel was completed.

1888
Russian Empire full of cultural events. Performances are performed, writers write letters. In Europe, Engels writes something of little interest to Liebknecht. In America, there is another round of court cases that ultimately dragged on for a quarter of a century and led to changes in the rules of judicial evidence.

1892
An international commission has been created to regulate fur seal fishing. This was one of the first examples of international cooperation in animal conservation.

1896
Talented organizers and creative personalities were born all over the world on this year and day.

1900
By Gregorian calendar 1900 is a non-leap year, according to Julian - a leap year.

1904
Russo-Japanese War- one of the first in the 20th century. And in Europe they dance and sing.

1908
Liquid helium was obtained at the Leiden laboratory. Created in Russia Oryol Central. They play football in Brazil.

1912
Joseph Stalin escapes from exile. Russia is helping to conclude the Serbian-Bulgarian treaty. Workers go on strike in Bodaibo.

1916
Strikes, pogroms, sunken ships, orders and everything that accompanies a world war. In Moscow, poets are self-elected to the Chairmen of the Globe.

1920
The Red Army is pushing back the atamans of Denikin and Annenkov. The first constitution was approved in the Czech Republic. The Kapp putsch began in Germany.

1924
After civil war culture comes to life. Surrogate money is prohibited. Vladimir Kryukov, chairman of the KGB and member of the State Emergency Committee, is born.

1928
The Central Election Commission and the Council of People's Commissars of all levels produce documents. Writers write letters. The artists perform. The ships are being built. Celebrities are born.

1932
There is an armed rebellion of fascists in Finland. The Last Emperor China is still trying to lead the state.

1936
Niels Bohr proposed a planetary model of the structure of the atom.

1940
Hitler is fooling the American diplomat. Black Hattie McDaniel wins an Oscar.

1944
Soviet troops successfully advancing in all directions.

1948
The President of Peru criticizes his opponents. Irina Kupchenko was born.

1952
The USSR sends notes to America because of the Katyn affair. A letter about Paulus is sent to Stalin. The Academy of Arts thinks about talented children. Aircraft testing ends and begins. Raisa Smetanina is born in the village of Mokhcha.

1956
Planes are flying. Unfairly accused and executed generals have been rehabilitated. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan was created. The President of Finland resigned. In Korea, articles are published that fully support the opinion of the country's leader.

1960
Major earthquake in Morocco. Flights of cruise missiles and new aircraft. Film premieres. Writers and at least one serial killer were born.

1964
Launching of a Soviet nuclear submarine. A message from the Americans about the existence of a new strategic fighter aircraft. The Pact of Arab Cultural Unity is signed.

1968
Ships and submarines have been launched. The Il-18D plane crashed.

1972
V. Vysotsky sings in Moscow. In the USA, John Lennon begins to fight for an American visa.