Leap Day 2024: Google has launched a new doodle today on February 29th. This new doodle is grabbing people’s attention towards it. Meanwhile, find out how Leap Year is estimated here.
Why Google’s Doodle is Special
People always get excited to see Google’s doodle on any event. The day of February 29th comes once every four years. For this day, there is a unique craze seen all over the world. Google has also celebrated this day with its new doodle, which is quite special. Google’s doodles usually revolve around a person, event, or program related to a specific country, but the doodle for Leap Year celebration is universal, meaning it is connected with all countries.
February 29th – Leap Day
February 29th is celebrated as Leap Day. This year, 2024, is a leap year. In a leap year, February has 29 days instead of the usual 28. This year, February 29th has arrived, adding an extra day to the calendar every four years to keep it balanced.
Why is Leap Year Important?
Leap Year is not just about coming every four years; it holds its own significance. A day on Earth is not exactly 24 hours, but 23.262222 hours. So, if we add February 29th every year, the calendar would be 44 minutes ahead, creating a difference between seasons and months.
What if there’s no Leap Day?
February 29th helps to balance the calendar and the orbit of Earth. If there were no Leap Day, the heat of May-June would shift to November. With February 29th, all seasons occur in their correct months every year, maintaining balance in the calendar.
How was Leap Day Created?
In ancient times, days were determined by the position of the sun. But the demand for time led to the introduction of calendars. Julius Caesar in 45 BC added an extra day to his Julian calendar. However, there was still a difference of 11 minutes per solar year. Then, in the 16th century, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar, including Leap Day on February 29th, explaining that Leap Day would occur in a year divisible by 4, except those divisible by 100 but not by 400. Also, years divisible by 400 would still be Leap Years.