Leap Day Explained:

Leap day is an extra day added to the calendar every four years (usually in February) to keep the calendar year synchronized with the solar year.

Here's a breakdown of why we have leap day:

• Earth's revolution: It takes the Earth approximately 365.2422 days to orbit the sun. However, our standard calendar only has 365 days.
• Accumulation of time: This slight difference (0.2422 days) adds up over time. Without leap days, the calendar would gradually drift out of sync with the seasons.
• Leap day correction: By adding an extra day every four years (roughly every 4 years because 0.2422 is close to 1/4), we compensate for this difference and keep the calendar year aligned with the solar year.

Therefore, yes, 2024 was a leap year, and February 29th was an extra day in the calendar. As of today, October 26, 2023, we are not in a leap year.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Leap year exceptions: While leap years occur every four years, there are some exceptions for specific years divisible by 100 but not by 400. For example, the year 1900 was not a leap year, but 2000 was.
• Cultural significance: Leap days are sometimes associated with unique traditions or celebrations, although their observance varies around the world.

I hope this explanation satisfies your curiosity about leap days!