New Year 2020 will be a leap year, which means that February will last one day longer. Just one day brought the leap year into disrepute. People dislike him and are afraid of him. It is believed that he may be unhappy, and if something bad happens, they will certainly blame the bad year for everything. To believe in it or not is everyone’s business, but you definitely shouldn’t expect and be afraid of something bad in advance. We tried to figure out where the concept of "leap year" came from and what signs are associated with it.
Where did the concept of "leap year" come from
Julian calendar
January 1, 45 B. C. Roman emperor Julius Caesar and Alexandrian astronomers decided to reform the Roman calendar and introduce solar instead of the lunar one. According to calculations, it turned out that the Earth makes a complete revolution around the Sun in 365 days and 6 hours. For 4 years, just 24 hours were accumulated - that is, an “extra” day. In order to somehow compensate for this error, one day was added to every fourth year and this year was considered a leap year. Well, since, in the time of Caesar, the year began with March, and not with January, the day was added to the last even month of the year, that is, to February.
Gregorian calendar
The matter did not end there. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII reformed the calendar. It turned out that the duration of the year is slightly shorter and is 365 days 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds, so fifteen hundred years later the Julian calendar had to be slightly corrected and replaced by the Gregorian one. As before, every fourth year remained a leap year, but an exception was made for those that were a multiple of 100. Such years were leap years only when they were also divided by 400.
For people who do not believe in all sorts of signs, it is clear that a leap year is just an astronomical phenomenon, an error in calculations and an attempt to correct it, so you definitely should not be afraid of this. But for a long time, so many superstitions and legends regarding the leap year have accumulated among the people that many people continue to believe in them for some reason.
Kasyanov Day
In Russia, the leap year was associated with Saint Kasyan, whose name day fell on February 29th. Kasyanov's day was considered one of the most dangerous, demonic days among the Eastern Slavs. It was believed that everything that is in any way connected with this day will be unsuccessful. Yes, and Kasyan himself was notorious, was considered evil, selfish, greedy, envious and vindictive, and brought only misfortunes to people. People believed that the burden of his evil deeds fell on the whole year, so over time, the leap year was overgrown with frightening superstitions.
And the first superstition is related to the fact that many people die in this year (interestingly, the statistics do not say anything about this).
What can not be done in a leap year?
Marriages and divorces
It is believed that in leap years nothing can be radically changed.
If you are going to get married - wait for the next year. Marriages made in a leap year are doomed to an unhappy life, quick divorce, infidelity and endless scandals. If you still need to get married, there are loopholes that will help protect future spouses from adversity and adversity.
For example, on the wedding day, it is imperative to wear a long dress so that a happy married life is as long. Small buttons that need to be sewn inside the wedding dress can be saved from betrayal of a loved one. Well, so that the newlyweds do not need anything, put small coins in your shoes. Walking will not be very convenient, but they will certainly attract good luck in the financial sector.
Divorce this year is also not worth it. After a divorce, it will be difficult to find a new partner and find happiness. Also be patient until next year, what if you change your mind?
Shopping and repairs
It is not recommended to relocate, build a new house or plan renovations. Everything will constantly break and fail. You can’t buy a car either, it’s obvious that it will also break soon. You can’t build a bathhouse - it can burn down.
Travel
It is better to refuse from traveling - it will not bring any joy or pleasure anyway, just waste your money.
Work
It is undesirable to change jobs, in a new place you will also face difficulties and failures. Here, perhaps, some kind of amulet will help if the job change, for example, did not occur on your initiative.
Having children
Well, the biggest failure is considered to be born on February 29, on Kasyanov's day. People born on such a rare date are doomed to a hard life full of hardships and difficulties.
What traditions and signs exist in other countries?
England
On February 29, every girl has the opportunity to ask the man she loves to marry her.
Denmark
The same tradition exists in Denmark, but if a man refuses the proposal, he is obliged to buy the failed bride 12 pairs of gloves. It is obvious that the girl should not be embarrassed by the absence of a wedding ring on her hand.
Finland
And again the girl makes an offer on February 29, and in case of refusal she receives not gloves, but a large piece of fabric for a beautiful skirt.
Germany
In the villages of southern Germany, boys plant trees in their lover's backyard in the spring, but once every four years, on a leap year, it's the girls' turn to plant trees.
Agree that it is much better to propose or plant a tree for a loved one than to be afraid of strange superstitions and expect failure.