From timeanddate.com
How do we calculate Leap Years? In the Gregorian calendar 3 criteria must be met to be a leap year:
- The year is evenly divisible by 4;
- If the year can be evenly divided by 100, it is NOT a leap year, unless;
- The year is also evenly divisible by 400. Then it is a leap year.
The year 2000 was somewhat special as it was the first instance when the third criterion was used in most parts of the world since the transition from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar.
Who invented Leap Years?
Julius Caesar introduced Leap Years in the Roman empire over 2000 years ago, but the Julian calendar had only one rule: any year evenly divisible by 4 would be a leap year. This lead to way too many leap years, but didn't get corrected until the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar more than 1500 years later."
Perhaps you would like to celebrate Leap Year 2012, as the 11-person elite aerial sports team known as the Red Bull Air Force (www.redbullairforce.com) who will attempt base jumps in four different cities today. Members will jump from the Conrad Miami Hotel at Espirito Santo Plaza – Miami, FL (460 feet), General Motors Headquarters at the Renaissance Center – Detroit, MI (571 feet), The Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV (480 feet), and the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa – Atlantic City, NJ (400 feet).
The Bible talks about an exhilarating rush for all those who love Jesus more than anything else.
Malachi 4:2 But for you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.
While dairy farming, each spring after the snow is off the ground and the grass is beginning to green, we let the calves out from the pens in the barn. The warm, fresh air and expanded freedom caused them to run and leap with reckless abandon.
The best way to celebrate Leap Year is to enjoy the expanded freedom and fresh life in Christ Jesus!
John 8: 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Happy Leaping!