Once every four years, we come across a unique phenomenon due to the earth’s orbit around the sun and the combined efforts of Pope Gregory XIII and Julius Caesar. Yep, you guessed it right—it's a leap year! This funky phenomenon throws an extra day into our calendar, particularly in the month of February. As Leap Day 2024 approaches, with February 29 falling on a Thursday, it's a reminder of the role it plays in balancing our calendar. With Earth's orbit slightly longer than 365 days, this extra day helps keep things in sync. Though Leap Day is all about astronomy, it is not only about it. It's a time for unique Leap Day superstitions, customs, and traditions followed by many countries and cultures across the world. Whether breaking conventional norms or wild and whacky superstitions, let's buckle up and dive headfirst into the superstitions and beliefs that make Leap Day a very special and unique day. Leap Year 2024: Interesting Facts That You Should Know About the Leap Year and February Month.

Here are some superstitions and traditions associated with Leap Day from around the world!

• According to an old Irish legend, on this day, St. Brigid allowed women to propose to men every four years, flipping traditional gender roles. It was a way to balance things out in society.

• In many European countries, on this day, if a man turns down a woman's proposal, he must buy her 12 gloves so she can hide her hand, which does not have a ring.

• February 29, Leap Day in many countries is considered a very unlucky day to be born on. It is believed that people born on this day live an unhappy life filled with suffering.

• In Greek culture, it is believed that couples who marry on February 29, Leap Day, always end up in divorce.

• In some places, people believe that farming should happen on Leap Day. That means no harvesting, planting, or buying new equipment. It is believed that farming on Leap Day brings bad luck to the crops.

• Another wild Leap Day or Leap Year superstition is that the death count tends to be higher than in other years.

• Leap Day is believed to bring bad health to parents in some countries. Hence, married daughters return home on Leap Day to ensure their parents' good health. They bring pig trotter noodles for good health and fortune. Happy Leap Day Birthday Wishes: WhatsApp Messages, Images and Quotes to Send Those Who Are Born on February 29.

This Leap Day 2024, let's take a moment to savour the superstitions that make this day so special. From breaking norms to learning about ancient practices, Leap Day surely keeps us all on our toes!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 27, 2024 09:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).