Most cultures base their annual calendars on the Gregorian calendar, which is the type most of us are familiar with, with thirty days in September, April, June and November, while there are thirty one in all others, except February. As we all know, February generally has twenty eight days, except for in leap years, when there are twenty nine days instead. On the other hand, the Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar, with 29 day months, and certain leap years which contain leap months to make up for the differential in dates.
So, why are there leap years? Because the astronomical year, and seasons generally align based on the rotation of the earth, and a year is generally considered to be one rotation, there is a need to make up and adjust our calendars. Most of us think of a year containing 365 days, but according to astronomical data, a year is actually made up of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 47 seconds. Therefore, since it would be clumsy to maintain a year with this odd length, there is an added day in February, every four years. Of course, mathematicians and statisticians could argue that there should be an additional adjustment because this means that there is an 11 minute, 43 second differential when the adjustment is made, but that has yet to be addressed. In the Hebrew calendar, 29 day months are used, there are obviously only 348 days in a non leap year, but that differential is addressed by adding approximately seven leap months every thirteen years in the Hebrew calendar. In this calendar, the extra leap month is called Adar 1, and in leap years there is both an Adar 1 and Adar 2. In actuality, the Hebrew calendar is based on 235 lunar months every 19 year cycle, which means an average of 12.37 months per year.
Why was February chosen to have only 28 days, while all others have 30 or 31 days. Why not simply have seven months of 30 days and five months of 31 days instead? There are many theories, yet nobody really knows for sure. One theory is that in honor of Augustus, it was decided to change August from 30 to 31 days, and thus February was chosen to be shortened because it was sandwiched between two 31 day months (January and March). There are many other theories, yet consider February to be honored to be the "oddball" month, and to have the distinction of being different. So, the next time you find it annoying to have to change the calendar on your wristwatch to adjust for this short month, just remember, it means it's one fewer day until Winter ends and Spring begins.
Richard Brody has over 30 years consultative sales, marketing, training, managerial, and operations experience. He has trained sales and marketing people in numerous industries, given hundreds of seminars, appeared as a company spokesperson on over 200 radio and television programs, and regularly blogs on real estate, politics, economics, management, leadership, negotiations, conferences and conventions, etc. Richard has negotiated, arranged and/ or organized hundreds of conferences and conventions. Richard is a Senior Consultant with RGB Consultation Services, an Ecobroker, a Licensed Buyers Agent (LBA) and Licensed Salesperson in NYS, in real estate.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Brody
So, why are there leap years? Because the astronomical year, and seasons generally align based on the rotation of the earth, and a year is generally considered to be one rotation, there is a need to make up and adjust our calendars. Most of us think of a year containing 365 days, but according to astronomical data, a year is actually made up of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 47 seconds. Therefore, since it would be clumsy to maintain a year with this odd length, there is an added day in February, every four years. Of course, mathematicians and statisticians could argue that there should be an additional adjustment because this means that there is an 11 minute, 43 second differential when the adjustment is made, but that has yet to be addressed. In the Hebrew calendar, 29 day months are used, there are obviously only 348 days in a non leap year, but that differential is addressed by adding approximately seven leap months every thirteen years in the Hebrew calendar. In this calendar, the extra leap month is called Adar 1, and in leap years there is both an Adar 1 and Adar 2. In actuality, the Hebrew calendar is based on 235 lunar months every 19 year cycle, which means an average of 12.37 months per year.
Why was February chosen to have only 28 days, while all others have 30 or 31 days. Why not simply have seven months of 30 days and five months of 31 days instead? There are many theories, yet nobody really knows for sure. One theory is that in honor of Augustus, it was decided to change August from 30 to 31 days, and thus February was chosen to be shortened because it was sandwiched between two 31 day months (January and March). There are many other theories, yet consider February to be honored to be the "oddball" month, and to have the distinction of being different. So, the next time you find it annoying to have to change the calendar on your wristwatch to adjust for this short month, just remember, it means it's one fewer day until Winter ends and Spring begins.
Richard Brody has over 30 years consultative sales, marketing, training, managerial, and operations experience. He has trained sales and marketing people in numerous industries, given hundreds of seminars, appeared as a company spokesperson on over 200 radio and television programs, and regularly blogs on real estate, politics, economics, management, leadership, negotiations, conferences and conventions, etc. Richard has negotiated, arranged and/ or organized hundreds of conferences and conventions. Richard is a Senior Consultant with RGB Consultation Services, an Ecobroker, a Licensed Buyers Agent (LBA) and Licensed Salesperson in NYS, in real estate.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Brody