The coming year 2020 will be a leap year - this means that February has 29 days instead of 28, as in normal years. From a scientific point of view, a leap year is in no way particularly unlucky: the extra February day is simply an adjustment to the four-year cycle. A year is not exactly equal to 365 days: its total length is 365 days and 6 hours. During the three years preceding the leap year, these 6 hours are not taken into account, but then, once in a four-year cycle, 24 hours are added in February. However, despite this scientific explanation, the leap year is surrounded by many prejudices; its onset is always awaited with particular caution.
The Legend of Saint Kasyan
Unlucky omens about the date February 29 have been entrenched since ancient times. Their appearance is associated with the legends of the Roman Saint John Cassian. In Rus' they called him Saint Kasyan, they attributed to him demonic traits and a bad, evil character: “No matter what Kasyan looks at, everything withers,” “The offspring will be bad in Kasyan’s year.”
According to one of the legends, Kasyan betrayed God, for which he suffered a terrible punishment - exile to hell, where he was continuously beaten on the forehead with a hammer, allowing him to rest only one day in 4 years. It is believed that it is on this day - February 29 - that Kasyan appears on earth and takes out all his accumulated rage and resentment. According to another legend, Kasyan served as a watchman at the gates of hell and could leave his post only once every 4 years.
The signs moved from February 29 to the entire leap year. Among these prejudices there are the most common ones.
Leap year affects people
In fact, this fact is not explained mystically, but quite logically - the number of deaths in a leap year is greater only because this year is longer by a whole day. Naturally, due to the additional day, the number of deaths increases compared to a normal year. As sad as it may be, people die, including suddenly, every year and every day. The likelihood that this will happen in a leap year is no greater than in the other three years.
During a leap year, even nature is cruel
It is believed that it is during this period that the frequency of natural disasters increases. In fact, lovers of mysticism are able to find a connection even where it does not exist at all. Terrible disasters also occurred in normal years. For example, the 2011 earthquake in Japan, which caused a devastating accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Expect terrible disasters on leap year
This myth is similar to the previous one - those who are inclined to believe in mysticism will find reasons for this everywhere. The sinking of the Titanic happened on the leap year of 1912. In fact, if you delve into history, you can find a lot of evidence of the fact that the greatest troubles befell humanity not only in leap years. For example, the beginning of the Great Patriotic War did not occur on a leap year - 1941.
Weddings cannot be held on a leap year.
A marriage entered into in such a year will quickly fall apart, will not be happy, one of the spouses will become widowed early - such horror stories are told to those who are going to marry themselves in a leap year.Statistics say that there is no confirmation of these speculations.
People often attach great importance to external circumstances rather than internal content. So, at one time, a huge number of newlyweds sought to legalize their relationship on 07/07/07 - on a supposedly happy day for marriage. However, the pursuit solely of a beautiful date did not bring happiness to these families - many of them have already broken up, despite the fact that the marriage was not concluded on a leap year.
In a leap year, any changes will not be for the good
Starting construction, changing your place of residence, getting a new job, making large purchases - all this threatens to result in serious troubles during a leap year and promises deprivation. Another unsubstantiated myth. Belief in the mysticism of this day is from the field of psychology. Do not set yourself up for failures in advance, and if they do overtake you, learn to look at an unpleasant situation from all sides and learn useful lessons.
Mushrooms are not collected during leap years.
It is believed that diseases can be collected with them - by this time, mushrooms absorb a lot of negative things and become poisonous. However, this sign is the only one that has the most realistic explanation. Myceliums tend to degenerate. And this happens approximately every 4 years. Mushroom sites become depleted and the taste of mushrooms becomes unpleasant. Of course, not all myceliums were formed in one year, especially so. So this prejudice can also be thrown into the “basket of superstitions.”
A leap year, designed to correct the discrepancy between the calendar and astronomical chronology, is not at all particularly unlucky. You should not attach mystical significance to unfortunate incidents. And to avoid failures, trust your intuition and common sense. Celebrate the New Year with hope for the best and believe that it will certainly give you what you want.
