I Solar Calendar -- When was the leap day inserted?

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The discussion centers on the insertion of leap days in solar calendars, particularly when the year begins on March 1 instead of January 1. It clarifies that leap years are determined by a four-year cycle, but the timing of leap day insertion can vary based on the calendar system in use. Specifically, when the year starts in March, the leap year would be recognized differently, potentially leading to confusion about which year is considered a leap year. The leap day was often inserted one year late during the period of calendar use, depending on ecclesiastical decisions. Overall, the determination of leap years is influenced by historical practices and adjustments made by the Church.
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If the year started on, for example, 1 March(in some places during the 15th century), two months later than our present year, when was the leap day inserted?
Thank you.
 
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Whenever you want. You just need one every four years (plus minor adjustments) - there's no need for it to be any particular date.
 
thanks.
however my question was when really it happenned? Meaning, if the year starts the first january the leap year is on the year you can divide by 4(let's say 1666).But when the year started in march was the leap year the year before(1665)?
 
I see. No idea - probably searchable, though.
 
Ibix said:
I see. No idea - probably searchable, though.
no problem thanks
 
Baluncore said:
thank you very much
i did however found this on the web (though he is not sure) :"

Then what about leap years?​

If the year started on, for example, 1 March, two months later than our present year, when was the leap day inserted?

When it comes to determining if a year is a leap year, since AD 8 the Julian calendar has always had 48 months between two leap days. So, in a country using a year starting on 1 March, 1439 would have been a leap year, because their February 1439 would correspond to February 1440 in the January-based reckoning.
 
ethan2 said:
If the year started on, for example, 1 March, two months later than our present year, when was the leap day inserted?
It depends on what the Church decided it should be, with the calendar they used back then.

"Intercalation or embolism in timekeeping is the insertion of a leap day, week, or month into some calendar years to make the calendar follow the seasons or moon phases." Wikipedia.
 

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