Today In Time
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Today In Time
by observer Wed Feb 29, 2012 8:29 am
We all know that Leap Year is the year we add an extra day to the month of February -- giving February 29 days; but do you know when this all began and why it is called LEAP year?
This confusing state of calendars began in 45 B.C., when Julius Caesar added an extra day to the Julian calendar every fourth year upon the advice of astronomer, Sosigenes. Or it could have been 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII ordered every fourth year to be a leap year (leap year brought the Gregorian calendar closer to the earth’s orbital period of 365.2422 days) unless it is a century year that cannot be divisible by 400. Or maybe it was 1698 when the Protestant rulers of Germany and the Netherlands thought it was time they agreed with the pope, or 1752 when the English made this calendar move or 1918 when the Russians picked up on the Gregorian calendar. It’s your call.
It is called Leap Year because it is not a COMMON year. A common year consists of exactly 52 weeks plus one day. That extra day means that a specific date moves one day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.) ahead the following year.
Leap Years also have a very uncommon tradition attached to them. It seems that in a Leap Year or Bissextile, a woman could propose marriage to the man of her choice. At least that’s what happened in Scotland in 1288 when a law was passed making this custom legal. This traditon spread throughout the rest of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, as did the law. A woman was expected to enforce and insist upon acceptance from the gentleman of choice or he would receive a penalty or fine. A penalty could be that the gentleman had to pay for a silk or satin dress selected by the scorned woman. And, you know the old saying, “Hell hath no fury like that of a woman scorned.” ... especially in a Leap Year.
1960 - The first Playboy Club opened on this day at 116 E. Walton, Chicago, IL. In case you hadn’t noticed, the last U.S. club, located in Lansing, MI, closed in 1988. The last international club, located in Manila, closed in 1991.
1964 - Hang on to your racquets on this one, sports fans: A shuttlecock drive record was set by Frank Rugani this day. Mr. Rugani slammed the birdie 79-feet, 8-1/2 inches in a test at San Jose, CA. A giant leap for badminton. A little leap for all mankind.
1980 - Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings became the first player in NHL history to score 800 career goals (in a 3-0 Wings’ win over the St. Louis Blues). Howe finished his career with 801 regular-season goals. Only Wayne Gretzky has surpassed that mark.
1980 - Jeanne Sauvé appointed first female Speaker of the House of Commons
BIRTHDAYS
1916 - Dinah (Frances Rose) Shore - Emmy Award-winning singer, entertainer: The Dinah Shore Show [1951], Dinah’s Place [1970]; Daytime Emmy: Dinah’s Place [1970], Dinah! [1974]; The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, singer: Yes, My Darling Daughter, The Breeze and I, Blues in the Night, I’ll Walk Alone, Buttons and Bows; died Feb 24, 1994
1936 - Henri Richard - ‘The Pocket Rocket’: hockey: NHL: Montreal Canadiens: 4-time all-star, played on 11 Stanley Cup champion teams [1955-1975]
This confusing state of calendars began in 45 B.C., when Julius Caesar added an extra day to the Julian calendar every fourth year upon the advice of astronomer, Sosigenes. Or it could have been 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII ordered every fourth year to be a leap year (leap year brought the Gregorian calendar closer to the earth’s orbital period of 365.2422 days) unless it is a century year that cannot be divisible by 400. Or maybe it was 1698 when the Protestant rulers of Germany and the Netherlands thought it was time they agreed with the pope, or 1752 when the English made this calendar move or 1918 when the Russians picked up on the Gregorian calendar. It’s your call.
It is called Leap Year because it is not a COMMON year. A common year consists of exactly 52 weeks plus one day. That extra day means that a specific date moves one day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.) ahead the following year.
Leap Years also have a very uncommon tradition attached to them. It seems that in a Leap Year or Bissextile, a woman could propose marriage to the man of her choice. At least that’s what happened in Scotland in 1288 when a law was passed making this custom legal. This traditon spread throughout the rest of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, as did the law. A woman was expected to enforce and insist upon acceptance from the gentleman of choice or he would receive a penalty or fine. A penalty could be that the gentleman had to pay for a silk or satin dress selected by the scorned woman. And, you know the old saying, “Hell hath no fury like that of a woman scorned.” ... especially in a Leap Year.
1960 - The first Playboy Club opened on this day at 116 E. Walton, Chicago, IL. In case you hadn’t noticed, the last U.S. club, located in Lansing, MI, closed in 1988. The last international club, located in Manila, closed in 1991.
1964 - Hang on to your racquets on this one, sports fans: A shuttlecock drive record was set by Frank Rugani this day. Mr. Rugani slammed the birdie 79-feet, 8-1/2 inches in a test at San Jose, CA. A giant leap for badminton. A little leap for all mankind.
1980 - Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings became the first player in NHL history to score 800 career goals (in a 3-0 Wings’ win over the St. Louis Blues). Howe finished his career with 801 regular-season goals. Only Wayne Gretzky has surpassed that mark.
1980 - Jeanne Sauvé appointed first female Speaker of the House of Commons
BIRTHDAYS
1916 - Dinah (Frances Rose) Shore - Emmy Award-winning singer, entertainer: The Dinah Shore Show [1951], Dinah’s Place [1970]; Daytime Emmy: Dinah’s Place [1970], Dinah! [1974]; The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, singer: Yes, My Darling Daughter, The Breeze and I, Blues in the Night, I’ll Walk Alone, Buttons and Bows; died Feb 24, 1994
1936 - Henri Richard - ‘The Pocket Rocket’: hockey: NHL: Montreal Canadiens: 4-time all-star, played on 11 Stanley Cup champion teams [1955-1975]
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