History of a Leap Year

Jack O'Hara '30 | February 7, 2024

Media by: Jack O'Hara '30

This year (2024), we have a leap year, so let's dive into some of its history. In the year 45 BCE, Julius Caesar declared that the year 46 BCE would consist of 445 days compared to 365 in order to correct the Roman calendar. This change resulted in the Year of Confusion. So then he created a year with 365.25 days, which was slightly longer than the solar year with 365.2422 days. which resulted in the addition of a leap day every fourth year. Even after hundreds of years we still use this system today. The leap year adds a day this year, so what will you do with your extra day?