By Rosemary Fetter
Leap Year holds certain advantages for some folks. Every four years, an extra day is tacked on to the calendar, allowing people born Feb. 29 to take years off their lives without Botox or plastic surgery. Employers who pay by the month find it a boon, and ski resorts tend also to benefit. Leap Year enriches the economy by 1/365, which is a real plus these days.
The history of Leap Year is complicated, dating back to the Roman Empire. By the time Emperor Julius Caesar took charge, the calendar had drifted so far out of balance that January fell in the middle of autumn. Naturally, this left people in constant confusion about when to take out their winter togas. The problem was partly political. Apparently, the high priest in charge of the calendar took bribes to lengthen the terms of certain officials while shortening others.
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