February 29 is a stepson of sorts in the calendar family. In the beginning, everyone forgets about it. Everyone is already tired of this winter, cold, wind and snow. I already want spring, the first sun and mimosas. And suddenly it was not March 1, but February 29. It’s like you broke up with your ex, moved away, but suddenly you come home and he’s there too. And he says: “And this is my apartment!”
We must remember that every four years there is an extra day in February. We don’t remember what happened tonight, this morning, but here we have to remember all day. Not everyone can cope with such a task.
February 29 is the symbol of leap year. And that means only one thing: disease, plague, plague, meteors. That’s how it happened. There is no need to go far; Four years ago, the Covid pandemic emerged in full force. What else do we remember: 2004 – terrorist attack in Beslan; 2000 – Sinking of the Kursk submarine. A short trip into history: 1912 – Titanic sank; 1908 – Tunguska meteorite exploded; 1812 – War with Napoleon; 1600 – Eruption of the Huaynaputina volcano as the Little Ice Age begins; 1556 – The most devastating earthquake in China cost 830 thousand lives.
There is such a concept in psychology – “don’t get stuck in negativity.” This is approximately what happens with disasters in leap years. It is the worst remembered.
At the same time, the most difficult and bloody war – the Great Patriotic War – began in 1941, which no longer exists. And in leap years, victory was won over the Swedes in the legendary Battle of the Neva (1240) and the Battle of Kulikovo (1380), which freed the Russians from the yoke of the Golden Horde.
Since it is customary to beware of a leap year and expect the worst from it, there are a lot of superstitions that need to be guarded and protected from harm.
The symptoms associated with it are the most severe. They are valid all year round! For example, you cannot move, get married, or start a new business in a leap year. It is believed that all these attempts will fail, the wedding will end in early widowhood and the affairs will end in failure. The day itself – February 29 – should be spent as quietly as possible, ideally lying in bed and doing nothing (we love these signs! – author’s note).
But if you believe all these signs, then, as they say, “we will not sell elephants with such an attitude.” It is difficult to imagine that today someone would refuse to buy an apartment because it was a “bad year”. Now is when you miss a day, then the price skyrockets and you have to take out another loan. It’s hard to imagine someone not getting married. Even the superstition “If you don’t get married in May, you will suffer” has been quietly pushed aside.
The events that happen in one day in the world today would have been enough for a few years before. And what will happen in a month has only just been included in a five-year plan. And it seems that the leap year will soon get rid of its “black mark”. Let’s say February 29 should be spent resting and doing nothing. From where? After all, we have to follow some of our grandmother’s signs.
The author expresses his personal opinion, which may not coincide with the position of the editors.