Why Do We Have Leap Years?

Why Do We Have Leap Years?

As we now look back at the past month, as it could easily feel like it has flown by, let us take a moment to dive a little deeper into why leap years exist and what makes February, the shortest month of the year, so special.  Typically, in normal years, there are 365 days. However, every four years we gain an extra day that is added onto February, and these are referred to as leap years. The most recent one was in 2024, and we will not have anot…

Leaping over a leap year in 2025

Learn more about the customs that come with the extra day (just not this year)    By DEVANSHI AGNIHOTRI —- arts@theaggie.org   Mark your calendars for Feb. 29 — a phrase that can only be said every four years. A leap year contains 366 days instead of 365 days, with the extra day being Feb. 29. A year must be divisible by four to be a leap year. But if the year is a century year, it must be divisible by 400 in order to be a leap year.  The histor…