Why 2024 is a leap year, what it means and why it happens
manchestereveningnews.co.ukWe're officially at the start of another year - a time for reflection, goal setting and exciting new beginnings. But 2024 will be a little bit different as it's a leap year.
They don't come around often so it's easy to forget when they are, and why they're special. It means we have an extra day this year, with the addition of Thursday February 29.
Leap years are needed to align our calendar with the sun, but it's very unfortunate if your birthday lands on one - as technically you can only officially celebrate once every four years. READ MORE: Medical breakthroughs, hope for endangered animals and a delivery from space - good news stories from the year 2023 READ MORE: New UK laws coming into effect in 2024 as dog ban and wage increase included And for traditionalists, they pose the chance for a woman to ask a man to marry her, thanks to an old-age Irish belief called Bachelor's Day.
Read on to find out why leap years happen and when the first one took place. Each year, our Gregorian calendar is made up of 365 days, except a leap year has 366 days.
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