【时讯】February 29th

every four years，the year has 366 daysinitinsteadof 365–butwhydoesthishappen？ well，itactuallytakestheplanetearth 365 daysandsixhourstorevolvecompletelyaroundthesun.afterfouryearsanextra 24 hourshaveacumument

itiscalledaleapyearbecausehundredsofyearsagoinengland， theextradaywasn ' tlegallyrecognised.contractsthatweremadewereapparentlynotseenasbindingonthatday.thebritishjustleapover y.the ruaryisconsequentlycalledalearandthat 29 thdayissometimescalledleapday。

ifyouarebornon 29 thfebruaryinaleapyear，therearedifficultiesincelebratingyourbirthdayasthedayonlyoccursonceeveryfouryears.soper

there isa well-knowntraditionintheukassociatedwith 29 th February，introducedmanycenturiesago.womenareallowedtobreakwithtradition

thisallstartedbackinthe5th century、when a famous irish saint、bridget、complained to saint patrick、another famous irish saint、 thatwomenhadtowaittoolongformentopropose.accordingtothelegend，saintpatricksaidanyfemalesyearningforaproposalcouldasktheirboy

this so-calledtraditionwasevenwritteninlawinthe 13 th century.scotlandpassedalawallowingwomentoposetomeninaleapyear.it was d thh

now in 2008，therearecallsfor 29 thfebruarytobecomeapublicholiday.somepeoplebelievethatitshouldbeanofficialdayoff， becausenoonegetspaidextraforworkinganextradayinaleapyear.forthemomentthough，thebritishstillhavetogotoworkonthisday。