When was the previous leap year. Leap years: list, history, signs and superstitions

I hope you had a great New Year's Eve and are now in a great holiday mood. At least that’s how it is for me - we didn’t drink any alcohol, and at midnight we clinked glasses of water from a five-liter canister, so we woke up, took a walk, and then I remembered one of yesterday’s New Year greetings:

I wish that at the end of each year, remembering what happened over the past 366 if ((year%4 == 0 and year%100 != 0) or (year%400 == 0)) else 365 days, think about myself:
Oh, nifiga yourself, what an action was. I will definitely tell my grandchildren or write a book about it later.

So, above is a fairly simple inline way to determine the number of days in a year (the year variable), which, in fact, fully reveals their essence: in the Gregorian calendar, leap years are those years whose serial number is either a multiple of 4, but not a multiple of 100 , or a multiple of 400. In other words, if the year is divisible by 4 without a remainder, but divisible by 100 only with a remainder, then it is a leap year, otherwise it is not a leap year, except if it is divisible by 400 without a remainder, then it is still a leap year.

For example, 2013 is a common year, 1700, 1800 and 1900 are again common years, but 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 are leap years.

But what if we don't remember how many days there are in leap years (366 days) and common years (365 days), or we just want to write the definition of the number of days in a year as quickly as possible? Is it possible to do this in Python? Of course you can.

So, Python has a calendar module. It is just great for finding out if a particular year is a leap year (or, for example, how many leap years are in a certain interval), determining the number of days in a month, getting the number of the day of the week for a certain date, and so on.

In particular, we can get the number of days in each month of the year, and simply add them up.

The calendar.monthrange function takes the year number as the first argument and the month number as the second argument. Returns the number of the day of the week on the first day of the given month and the number of days in the given month:

>>> import calendar >>> calendar.monthrange(2013, 1) (1, 31)
Accordingly, we can calculate the total number of days for all 12 months, and thus obtain the number of days for a given year:

>>> import calendar >>> year = 2013 >>> sum(map(lambda x: calendar.monthrange(year, x), range(1, 13))) 365
But if you think about how exactly this line is executed, it becomes obvious that this solution is very inefficient if you need to count the number of days for a large number of years.

We check with the timeit module.

To complete it 1 million times, it takes 13.69 seconds if import calendar is done once at the beginning. If import calendar is done every time then 14.49 seconds.

Now let's try another option. It requires knowing how many days there are in leap and non-leap years, but it is very short:

>>> import calendar >>> year = 2013 >>> 365+calendar.isleap(year) 365
And, as you might guess, it is already much faster: 0.83 seconds, including import calendar, and 0.26 seconds if import calendar is done once at the beginning.

Let's also see how long the very first option takes, with a "manual" approach: 0.07 seconds for 2012 and 2013 and 0.12 seconds for 2000 (I think everyone understands where such a difference in speed for these years comes from).

It turns out that this is the fastest option out of these three:

>>> import calendar >>> year = 2013 >>> 366 if ((year%4 == 0 and year%100 != 0) or (year%400 == 0)) else 365 365
Of course, in most cases, you can use either of these options - after all, when determining the number of days in one, two, ten, or a hundred years, you are unlikely to feel any difference.

Write, optimize, improve, test and evaluate performance - but don't forget about the readability of your program sources.

Happy New Year! Good luck, happiness, joy and self-improvement in the new year.

A leap year gives rise to many superstitions and rumors, which boil down mainly to the fact that this year is unlucky and rich in negative events. Let's see if this is the case.

Leap year: a bit of history

The word "leap" is of Latin origin, translated as "second sixth". According to the Julian calendar, the year lasted 365.25 days, while every year the day shifted by 6 hours. Such an error could confuse the ancient men, so that this did not happen, it was decided that every fourth year would consist of 366 days, and February would become a day longer. This year is called a leap year.

In Russia, there were many legends about the appearance of leap years, each of which was considered unlucky.

Legends about the appearance of a leap year in Russia

February 29 is also called in honor of St. Kasyan Kasyanov Day. Being a bright angel, he was tempted by the tricks of evil spirits and went over to the side of the devil. However, later he repented and prayed to the Lord for mercy. Having mercy on the traitor, God assigned an angel to him. He put Kasyan in chains and, at the behest from above, beat him on the forehead with an iron hammer for 3 years, and let him go on the fourth.

According to another legend, Kasyanov's day is the day of his name day. However, the saint each time got dead drunk for three years and came to his senses only in the fourth year. Therefore, he is supposed to celebrate his day so rarely.

There is a third legend: walking along the road, Saint Kasyan and Nicholas the Wonderworker met a peasant. He asked for help, as his wagon got stuck in the mud. To which Kasyan replied that he was afraid to stain the robe, and Nikolai helped. The saints came to paradise, God noticed that Nicholas's robe was dirty and asked what was the matter. The Miracle Worker told him what had happened. Then God noticed that Kasyan's robe was clean, and asked if they weren't walking together? Kasyan replied that he was afraid to get his clothes dirty. God understood that the saint was cunning and made it so that his name day comes every 4 years. And the birthday of Nikolai for his kindness - twice a year.

Leap years were notorious in Russia: we will not continue the list of legends for a long time, here is one example: honest people tried to complete all their affairs before February 29th. Many did not dare to leave the house, the sun on this day was called the "Eye of Kasyan", they were afraid to fall under the sun, so that Kasyan would not jinx them and send illness and suffering.

Leap year superstitions

As in ancient times, in the modern world there are often signs and superstitions that do not characterize leap years in the best way (the list is given below):

We need to postpone marriage in a leap year. Such a marriage will not be lasting, the young will quarrel, and the newly created family will incur troubles and misfortunes.
You need to wait with the sale, purchase, exchange of real estate or building a house. The deals made this year will not be profitable and will inevitably lead to the ruin of the parties. The new home won't last long.
Any undertakings are dangerous - job change, moving, starting a business. The sign is understandable: the presence of the 29th day in one of the winter months can characterize the whole year as not being what it should be. Therefore, it is easier for a person who is unsure of his own abilities to refuse something new than to make efforts to start and develop a business.
You can not get pregnant and give birth, as the birth will be difficult, the baby may be born unhealthy. Or his life will be hard and joyless.
A leap year "mows down" people, that is, it takes them away. It is generally accepted that mortality increases every fourth year, although this superstition is not statistically confirmed.
You can’t pick mushrooms, eat them or sell them to people, so as not to raise bad things from the earth.
It is believed that leap years entail natural disasters and disasters: fires, floods, drought.

What are leap years? List of leap years in the 20th century

In the past century, as well as in the 21st century, leap years have been terrifying for superstitious people. A list of them is given below:

1900s: -00; -04; -08; -12, and so on, every fourth year.
The year 2000 was also a leap year.

Leap years: 21st century list

To this day, many fearfully wait for a leap year, psychologically setting themselves up for trouble and explaining misfortune by the presence of an extra day in February.

Leap years, list since 2000: -04; -08; -12; -16, and then - every fourth year.

Instead of a conclusion

According to statistics, only a small number of all the troubles and disasters occur in leap years. The superstitions that exist to this day can be explained by the fact that people who closely follow the troubles and misfortunes that happened in leap years, attached exaggerated significance to what was happening solely because of the unflattering glory of the latter.

People who believe too much in leap year superstitions would like to wish to pay more attention to positive changes and events. And then, perhaps, a list of good signs rehabilitating leap years will appear.

Undoubtedly, almost everyone knows that usually a year has 365 days, but a leap year is longer by a whole day. People believe that a leap year brings great sorrows, tragedies, illnesses, big and small troubles. Some call this thinking superstition, while others firmly believe in an "unlucky" year.

At present, our lives are already filled with horrors and fears that seem to lurk around every corner, so people are asking in advance - Is 2017 a leap year or not? We will be happy to answer the burning question and tell you a little about the leap year itself.

Is 2017 a leap year?

No, not a leap year, as it only has 365 days. But 2016, which is already beginning to come to an end, is just that. The Year of the Monkey turned out to be difficult, there were all sorts of things - floods, and various disasters, both local and general.

No wonder people say that a leap year brings misfortune. For years, centuries, people have watched the events taking place, thanks to which the leap year has bothered to be called an unfavorable year.

How to determine if it's a leap year or not

In fact, everything is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Someone simply remembers which year is a leap year and counts four years, because it is with such a frequency that a “leap year” occurs - for every fourth year.

But what if you completely forgot - when was the leap year and you urgently need to determine the number of days of the next year - 365 or 366?

In this case, there are three simple rules, thanks to which you can easily calculate what year is now or will ever be later.

A certain year with zeros at the end is a leap year when it is divisible without a remainder by both "4", and "100", and "400". For example, 2000/4=500; 2000/100=20; 2000/400=5. But the years 1800 and 1900 are not leap years, and also they are not a multiple of "400", but a multiple of "4" and "100".
If a certain year is divisible by "4" without a remainder, then it is a leap year. For example, 2016/4=504; 2020/4=505 etc.
If a certain year is divisible without a remainder by 4, 100, and 1000, then it is a leap year. For example, 2000/1000=2.

These rules were formulated by none other than the creator of the Gregorian calendar, Pope Gregory XIII back in 1582.

The history of the occurrence of such a phenomenon as a leap year

Back in 45 BC. Alexandrian astrologers, on the orders of Julius Caesar, developed the Julian, according to which, the astronomical year contained 365 days and 6 hours. That's just in order to somehow align the shift in time, and introduced the concept of a leap year. For three years, the usual calculation of 365 days went on, and in the fourth year, February added one more to its 28 days. Why February? The answer is simple - in the Roman Empire, February was considered the final month of the year.

So, February 29 began to appear in calendars with a frequency of 4 years. Two years after the introduction of the leap year, Julius Caesar died in an unequal battle with traitors. The priests, apparently, misunderstood the calendar created by the Roman dictator, and for 36 years after the death of Caesar, the leap year came not every four, but every three years. Emperor Augustus succeeded in restoring order.

Popular beliefs in a leap year

Translated from Latin, the leap year is translated as "the second sixth." The duration of bis sextus is 366 days. The “added” day scares people, which creates a whole superstition around every fourth year.

Rumor has it that February 29 is the most difficult and difficult day in terms of health. This extra day is called the day of Kasyan and is considered demonic. If you work on this day, then nothing will come of it. They also try not to go outside again, otherwise the risk of sudden death increases. Even newborn babies, who are “unfortunate” to be born on this day, are expected by superstitions that “kind” people will invest in a child’s head from infancy. According to ancient beliefs, those born on February 29 will be seriously ill and leave our world early.

The most common superstition associated with a leap year is marriage. Mothers strictly forbid their children to marry in this "terrible" year. A marriage made on a leap year is doomed to be unhappy. This is how they think, mainly in villages and villages.

It is also impossible to radically change something in your life. Under the ban, moving, changing jobs, even a pet is better not to start. In a word, it is better to postpone any changes until better times.

If we believe the observations of our ancestors, then the leap year will only bring big declines, small and grandiose problems. We need to be as careful and prudent as possible this year. Pregnant women should not cut their hair, young people should not be caroled, no one should be told about plans for the future, and much, much more. Even divorce in a leap year is undesirable.

Someone follows all the beliefs and is actually afraid of a leap year. Others are more optimistic about the future. They are sure that once they have lived to see a leap year, this is already good, and they wish everyone a great many more leap years.

sharky:
03/25/2013 at 16:04

and why is 1900 not a leap year? A leap year occurs every 4 years, i.e. Divisible by 4, it's a leap year. And no more divisions by 100 or 400.

Asking questions is normal, but before you say something, study the materiel. The earth revolves around the sun in 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes 46 seconds. As you can see, the rest is not exactly 6 hours, but 11 minutes 14 seconds less. This means that by making a leap year we add extra time. Somewhere in 128 years, extra days accumulate. Therefore, every 128 years in one of the 4-year cycles, a leap year is not necessary to get rid of these extra days. But to simplify, a leap year is not made every 100th year. Is the idea clear? Good. But how then to proceed, because an extra day is added every 128 years, and we cut it every 100 years? Yes, we cut off more than it should be, and this must be returned sometime.

If the first paragraph is clear and still interesting, then read on, but it will be more difficult.

So, in 100 years, 100/128=25/32 days of excess time accumulate (this is 18 hours 45 minutes). We do not make a leap year, that is, we subtract one day: we get 25/32-32/32 = -7/32 days (this is 5 hours and 15 minutes), that is, we subtract the excess. After four cycles of 100 years each (after 400 years) we will subtract an extra 4*(-7/32)=-28/32 days (this is minus 21 hours). On the 400th year, we make a leap year, that is, we add a day (24 hours): -28/32+32/32=4/32=1/8 (this is 3 hours).
We make every 4 years a leap year, but at the same time every 100 years is not a leap year and at the same time every 400 years is a leap year, but still every 400 years an extra 3 hours are added. After 8 cycles of 400 years, that is, after 3200 years, an extra 24 hours will accumulate, that is, one day. Then one more obligatory condition is added: every 3200th year should not be a leap year. 3200 years can be rounded up to 4000, but then again you have to play with added or truncated days.
3200 years have not passed, so this condition, if it is made so, is not yet spoken of. But 400 years have already passed since the approval of the Gregorian calendar.
Years divisible by 400 are always leap years (for now), other years divisible by 100 are not leap years, other years divisible by 4 are leap years.

My calculation shows that in the current state, an error of one day accumulates over 3200 years, but this is what Wikipedia writes about this:
“An error of one day compared to the year of the equinoxes in the Gregorian calendar will accumulate in about 10,000 years (in the Julian - in about 128 years). A frequently encountered estimate, leading to a value of the order of 3000 years, is obtained if we do not take into account that the number of days in a tropical year changes with time and, in addition, the ratio between the lengths of the seasons changes. From the same Wikipedia, the formula for the length of the year in days with fractions paints a good picture:

365,2425=365+0,25-0,01+0,0025=265+1/4-1/100+1/400

The year 1900 was not a leap year, but 2000 was, and special, because such a leap year happens once every 400 years.

2012 is a leap year that starts on Sunday. In the Julian calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar, the year consists of 365 days, and every fourth - of 366. The Earth's orbit is arranged in such a way that our planet does not make an annual revolution around the Sun in an integer number of days. With this "tail", equal to 5 hours 48 minutes and 46 seconds, the eternal problems of the calendar are connected. Among the people, these leap years (from lat. bis seхtus - "second sixth"), elongated years since the time of the Romans and Greeks have been notorious ... But is the devil as terrible as he is painted? Let's try to call on the stars for help and sort out this issue on the eve of 2012...

Why is Leap Year 2012 Dangerous?

Usually, the image of Kasyan was associated with hell and assigned to him demonic features in appearance and behavior. One of the legends said that Kasyan was a bright angel, but betrayed God, telling the devil about the Lord's intention to expel all satanic power from heaven. Having committed a betrayal, Kasyan repented, God took pity on the sinner and gave him a relatively light punishment. He assigned an angel to him, who beat Kasyan on the forehead with a hammer for three years in a row, and in the fourth year gave him rest. Another legend tells that Kasyan stood guard at the gates of hell and only once a year had the right to leave them and come to earth.

According to popular notions, St. Kasyan is unfriendly, mercenary, stingy, envious, vindictive and brings people nothing but misfortune. The external appearance of Kasyan is unpleasant, his slanting eyes with disproportionately large eyelids and a deadly look are especially striking. Russian people believed that "Kasyan looks at everything, everything fades", "Kasyan mows everything obliquely", "Kasyan on the people - it's hard for the people", "Kasyan on the grass - the grass dries, Kasyan on the cattle - the cattle dies."

Some legends explained the malignancy of Kasyan by the fact that in infancy he was abducted from pious parents by demons, who raised him in their home. In addition, they told that St. Basil the Great, having met with Kasyan, put the sign of the cross on his forehead, after which Kasyan began to have the ability to burn demons approaching him. However, all this could not whitewash the saint, and for everyone he continued to be Kasyan the Unmerciful, Kasyan the Envious, Kasyan the Terrible, Kasyan the Miser. Memorial Day of St. Kasyan was celebrated once every four years. Saint Kasyan spreads his malignity throughout the year: "Kasyan came, went to limp and break everything in his own way."

Leap year wedding 2012 - is it bad?

Many couples in love are sure that getting married on a leap year means dooming their marriage to collapse. What to do if you want to play a wedding, but there is no desire to wait for 2013? If we turn to history, we can see a funny picture. Indeed, once every four years, young people did not disturb the matchmakers, and there was no festive commotion in the house of the bride's parents. But this does not mean at all that lovers could not get married. What is most remarkable, the girls went to woo. It turns out that leap year was the year of brides who could choose their own groom! Initially, the custom of women's matchmaking had one condition: that "every lady who goes to woo should put on an undershirt of crimson flannel and that its edge should be clearly visible, otherwise the man will have to pay a fine for it." They could refuse to marry a bride only in the rarest cases, but no mention of them has been preserved.

If a leap year were somehow objectionable to the church in terms of the celebration of the Sacrament of the wedding, then this would certainly be reflected in church canons. But there is no such rule. So this superstition has nothing to do with the true state of things. But if this sign matters to you, but you are still going to get married in 2012, then ask the priest to say before the crown: "I crown with a crown, and not with a leap end."

Leap year 2012 - name day of death

There is another superstition associated with the leap year. It says that more people die in a leap year than in other years ("death will rise!"). It is believed that a lot of "overstayed" old people and sickly people die on a leap year. Why in a leap year "someone dies"? There is such an intricate legend. One of the Christian saints beats devils with chains without rest for 4 years. In the new year, he lifts his eyes, and the earth consoles him. Having consoled himself, he begins to whip the devils with particular frenzy, which, accordingly, harm what comforted him: grass (and fires destroy crops), animals (and pestilence begins) or people. Another legend belongs to the ancient Roman holiday called Feralia and held on February 21 - on this day a meal was prepared for the souls of the dead and they brought as a gift tiles with a faded wreath, bread soaked in wine, some violets, a few grains of millet, a pinch of salt. But souls do not need plentiful food and gifts; the memory of the living is more important to them. Therefore, the most important thing is to pray to them with all your heart and not forget about them.

Once during the war they forgot to hold the Feralia. A pestilence began in Rome, and at night the souls came out of the graves in droves and filled the streets with loud weeping. As soon as they were sacrificed, they returned to the land, and the pestilence ceased. The legend of the February deaths has survived to this day, having undergone a change in content. There is another version - in ancient times, February was the last month of the year. In ancient Rome, for example, in February, they tried to cleanse themselves of all the bad things that had accumulated over the year. Hence, its name - according to the name of the rite of cult cleansing from sins, repentance in Dr. Rome - februarius (from Latin "cleansing"). And it was believed that after February "extra people" died.

If we touch on modern statistics, then approximately the same number of people die in leap years as in others, and the mortality rate depends entirely on other factors. But, alas, in folk psychology, all the troubles, one way or another, are transferred to leap years! If there are sick relatives in your house, and you are still afraid that there is a leap year ahead - go to church, light a candle and pray for the already deceased ...

10 minutes before the leap year of 2012, say a special prayer: “I ride on horseback, ride on foot, and I have a successful year. Key, lock, tongue. Amen. Amen. Amen." And on the last night of the year, use this prayer: “Annual angels, holy angels, don’t give your word, don’t let the new year come from the leap year. no flammable tears, no painful ailments. 12 angels, stand up for protection (names of family members). The word is strong, molded by the year. Amen. Amen. Amen. " And everything will be fine!

Childbirth in Leap Year 2012

A pregnant woman was strictly forbidden to cut her hair before childbirth in a leap year under the threat of the birth of a mentally retarded child. A child born in a leap year must be christened. Only the closest, blood relatives could be godparents. Some people believe in all this, some don't. Some do not really believe, but still prefer to play it safe. It is believed that there is no worse birthday than February 29th. It seems like a sad fate awaits a person born on this day: he will be unhappy all his life, he will face an early death, a serious illness or injury. As a consolation to those who celebrate a real birthday once every four years, the only thing left is "could not have been born at all." There are times when mothers who have given birth beg registry office workers not to register a child on February 29th.

There are about 4 million children on February 29 in the world - this is only 0.0686% of the world's population. The chance of a child being born in a leap year is about 1 in 1500. One Norwegian family even managed to get into the Guinness Book of Records: three children were born exactly on February 29, and in different leap years. One can only guess how much effort this coincidence cost the parents. Those born on an extra day in February usually celebrate their birth every year, although once every four years "more thoroughly". German professor Heinrich Hemme developed his own system of leap birthdays. It all depends on what time you were born.

from 0.00 to 6.00 - in a non-leap year, celebrate 28.02.
from 6.00 to 12.00 - two years after the leap year, celebrate 28.02, on the third - 1.03.
from 12.00 to 18.00 - in the first year after the leap year, celebrate 28.02, in the second and third - 1.03.
from 18.00 to 24.00 - note 1.03.

Do not forget that there is another sign: on this day, the chosen ones and the lucky ones are born. According to some ancient sources, this day was sacred: the day-mystery, the day-mystery... the day when the window to the "parallel world" opens. It is not for nothing that this day is still called “pop-up”, “elusive”, as if appearing from nowhere and going nowhere ... It was believed that the chosen ones were born on this day. Some messengers from a parallel world.

In ancient times, these people were considered born Mages, endowed with a prophetic gift. Carefully guarded and guarded, forced to live as recluses, the "chosen ones" really possessed a miraculous gift, capable of not only predicting, but also healing, "cleansing" of all filth. If you were born on February 29, in a leap year, thus falling under the sign of Pisces, you will have less difficulties and more luck in your early years. Children born in 2012 will be rich and provide their parents with a decent old age. And what can it mean for "mere mortals" if you suddenly meet people born on February 29 in your life? Considering that these are human messengers, they appear in the fate of a person by no means by chance, but with a specific mission: to convey information to us. Perhaps it will be a lesson, or maybe some knowledge. "The information that came to you through a person born on February 29 has a secret, esoteric meaning, and I would not advise ignoring it..."

Signs of Leap Year 2012

In a leap year, it is better not to start building a bathhouse.
If possible, do not change jobs and apartments.
You can't sell livestock.
The third goose of all those slaughtered is given away for nothing.
Old people should not buy "mortal" in reserve. Sign: they will not live long after that.
People who divorced in a leap year should buy a new towel and take it to church, give it to the women who wash and clean there, saying to themselves: “I pay tribute to the leap year, and you, family angel, stand next to me. Amen. Amen. Amen".
In a leap year, leaving home for any reason or for work, they say without stepping over the threshold of their house: “I’m going and going on a leap year, I bow to a leap year. I left the threshold, I’ll be back here. Amen.”
In the spring of a leap year, when planting in a garden, they say: "In a leap year, it's fine to die."
At the first thunder in a leap year, they put a finger on a finger with a cross and whisper: "The whole family is with me (names of family members are listed). Amen."
Hearing the howl of a dog in a leap year, they say: "Go howl, but not to my house. Amen."
On parental Saturday, having come to the cemetery in a leap year, they do not commemorate until they give three people a mention.
Usually on Ivan Kupala people collect herbs for treatment. And in a leap year, having come to the forest, before picking at least a blade of grass, they stand facing the west and say: "Leap year Father, keep the bad for yourself, but let me take the expensive. Amen."
Knowledgeable people do not collect mushrooms in a leap year, do not eat them and do not sell them, so as not to raise bad things from the earth. Remember, mushrooms dream of coffins.
In a leap year, kittens cannot be drowned.
If you are in the church where the funeral is being held, it is better not to be around.
In a leap year they do not carol.
There is a custom among the people to invite "on the tooth." They do not do this in a leap year - the child will have bad teeth.
For mothers whose daughters had their first period in a leap year, it is better not to tell anyone about this - neither a friend, nor a sister, nor a grandmother, so as not to spoil the woman's share of her daughter.
If it happened that in a leap year a person was guilty before the law (as they say: don’t renounce prison and money), then one of the prisoner’s relatives should go to church, put a candle to three saints and, leaving the church, say: “Leap year will leave, and the slave (name) will come home. Amen."
A prisoner in prison, seeing off a leap year, must cross himself and say: "Free will, but not captivity to me." There will be fewer troubles and diseases in captivity. But they do it so that no one sees.

May longing and sadness bypass your homes, and may the leap year 2012 be lucky for you!