The concept of Leap Day for the Julian calendar was introduced by the Roman Dictator Julius Caesar in 45 BCE. However, it was initially implemented on February 24 instead of February 29. Additionally, in the Julian calendar, February served as the final month.
February 29th, known as Leap Day, occurs approximately once every four years to ensure synchronization between our calendars and the Earth's orbit around the sun.
The origin of the leap year dates back over 2,000 years. It was introduced to align the standard Gregorian calendar with the solar calendar, acknowledging that Earth's orbit around the sun takes slightly more than 365 days—precisely 365.2422 days.
The significance of calendar accuracy lies in maintaining synchronization with the seasons. The tilt of the Earth's axis determines the seasons, resulting in varying sunlight throughout the year. Equinoxes and solstices, denoting the beginning of seasons, are fixed on specific calendar dates. Without alignment with Earth's orbit, the calendar would lead to a gradual drift, causing the seasons to deviate from their expected dates.
On Thursday, February 29, Google unveiled a distinctive doodle to celebrate 'Leap Day.' Notably, this doodle achieved a global reach in terms of visibility. The doodle features a frog adorned with the Leap Day date within a scene incorporating the dates February 28 and March 1. As the frog jumps, the Leap Day date disappears. The backdrop showcases a pond with stones and leaves, with the word 'Google' subtly integrated into the setting.
