Quiz: Take the Leap!

2. Which Roman leader stole a day from February to make his namesake month longer?

• Julius Caesar
  Close, but you picked the wrong Caesar. Legend has it that Augustus added a day to his namesake month, August.

  At the time, August only had 30 days, while July, the month already named for Julius Caesar, had 31. Augustus didn't want Julius' month to be longer than his, so he ordered that a day be taken from the already short February to even the score.

• Augustus Caesar
  You picked the right Caesar! Legend has it that Augustus added a day to his namesake month, August.

  At the time, August only had 30 days, while July, the month already named for Julius Caesar, had 31. Augustus didn't want Julius' month to be longer than his, so he ordered that a day be taken from the already short February to even the score.

• Decembrius Caesar
  Nope. December got its name from the Latin word "decem," meaning 10. December was originally the 10th month of the Roman year.

  Augustus Caesar was the guy who added a day to his namesake month, August. At the time, August only had 30 days, while July, the month already named for Julius Caesar, had 31. Augustus didn't want Julius' month to be longer than his, so he ordered that a day be taken from the already short February to even the score.

3. The Gregorian calendar keeps the days straight for most of us in the West. What is this calendar based on?

• The earth revolving around the sun.
  You're hot! The current Gregorian calendar is based on a solar year, or the length of time it takes for the earth to revolve once around the sun.

  A calendar year is 365 days, but a solar year is just a little bit longer. That's why we have to add an extra day to February every four years to make up the difference.

• The phases of the moon.
  You're off the mark, but not by far. Many ancient calendars were based on the lunar month which lasts about 29 1/2 days. Some calendars are still based on the moon. But the current Gregorian calendar is based on a solar year, or the length of time it takes for the earth to revolve once around the sun.

  A calendar year is 365 days, but a solar year is just a little bit longer. That's why we have to add an extra day to February every four years to make up the difference.

• The changing stars in the sky.
  You're out there -- but not too far. In ancient times people did keep track of the seasons by looking at the stars. But the current Gregorian calendar is based on a solar year, or the length of time it takes for the earth to revolve once around the sun.

  A calendar year is 365 days, but a solar year is just a little bit longer. That's why we have to add an extra day to February every four years to make up the difference.

4. Every four years, without fail, an extra day is added to February.

• True.
  Not quite. Adding an extra day every four years, would make the calendar year 11 minutes and 14 seconds longer than the solar year. Year after year, this inaccuracy could cause some problems.

  The Gregorian calendar fixes this glitch. It adds an extra day to February every four years, except in century years that cannot be divided by 400. For example, 1900 was not a leap year, but the year 2000 is.

• False.
  You got it! Adding an extra day every four years, would make the calendar year 11 minutes and 14 seconds longer than the solar year. Year after year, this inaccuracy could cause some problems.

  The current Gregorian calendar fixes this glitch. It adds an extra day to February every four years, except in century years that cannot be divided by 400. For example, 1900 was not a leap year, but the year 2000 is.

5. Where did February get its name?

• From the famous Roman Leader Febuastus.
  Nope -- never heard of Febaustus. February actually comes from the Latin word "februare," which means to purify. February was once the last month of the Roman year. It was a time for Romans to clean up their acts, and prepare for all the festivals of the new year.
• From the Latin word "februare," meaning to purify.
  Febulous! February does come from the Latin word "februare," which means to purify. February was once the last month of the Roman year. It was a time for Romans to clean up their acts, and prepare for all the festivals of the new year.
• From the ancient Roman Valentine's Day festival, Februtaria.
  Nope. The Roman's never celebrated "Februtaria," but they did whoop it up on Lupercalia, a festival that later evolved into Valentines Day.

  February actually comes from the Latin word "februare," which means to purify. February was once the last month of the Roman year. It was a time for Romans to clean up their acts, and prepare for all the festivals of the new year.