"Understanding Leap Year 2024: Significance, Calendar Impact, and February 29 Explained"
The year 2024 is a leap year, meaning it includes an extra day, February 29, to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth's orbit around the sun. Leap years occur approximately every four years to compensate for the fact that a solar year is slightly longer than 365 days. The Gregorian calendar, established by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, dictates that a year is a leap year if it is divisible by 4, except for end-of-century years, which must be divisible by 400. This system ensures our seasons and calendar remain consistent over time. Leap Day also has cultural significance, especially for the approximately 5 million people worldwide born on February 29, who often celebrate their birthdays on February 28 or March 1 during non-leap years.