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Viewpoint from Revd Canon Nick Garrard 23/02/2024
 Revd Canon Nick Garrard
Nick is Rector of the Rockland Benefice in the Bramerton Group (Bramerton, Rockland St. Mary with Hellington, Surlingham, Claxton, Carleton St. Peter and Kirby Bedon with Whitlingham) and Bishop’s Officer for Christian Spirituality through the Creative Arts
We’re getting close to one of those events that happens regularly, but not frequently enough for me to remember when it comes, but 2024 is a leap year, and in the coming week we look forward to an extra day, February 29th. For anyone who gets paid at the end of the month it may not feel much of a bonus, but every four years the shortest month is lengthened to keep the calendar working
 Julius Caesar instituted the first leap year in 45 BCE, when he created the 365-day calendar. The earth orbits the sun in just under 365.25 days, so every fourth year another day is added to make a necessary adjustment. There’s a wrinkle in this plan – earth’s orbit takes just under 365.25 days, so to compensate three out of four ‘century years’ aren’t leap years. 2000 was the first leap ‘century year’ since 1600. 2100 won’t be a leap year, but I don’t imagine this will affect many of us!
Around the world there are leap year traditions. In Britain, women proposed to their sweethearts on February 29th (Scotsmen could be fined for turning them down). German women left birch trees decorated with ribbons outside men’s homes as signs of affection. In Greece, weddings in leap years were seen as unlucky and usually avoided. In Taiwan, daughters served pig’s trotter noodles to ageing parents to help them keep well
I wonder how you and I will spend February 29th this year. It may seem to be a day like any other, but it will be a gift, just as every other day of our lives is a gift. As I look out of my window, rain continues to fall out of a slate grey sky. It’s really cold out there. It would be easy for me to wish such a day away, but wrong. Today is a gift. Sometimes days can be hard and painful, but more often we can be aware of their potential: the chance to breathe, to reach out to others in friendship, love and concern, and to allow others to find us; to connect with the natural world, even if it’s just the view from our window or birdsong. There’s a response sometimes used in morning services in church that I can make to God anywhere, anytime as well. You’re welcome to use it too if you find it helpful:
This is the day that the Lord has made
We will rejoice and be glad in it
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