Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. Donating blood is essential. That’s why 96.1 BBB partnered with The Blood Connection for a series of blood drives. If you were unable to join us at these dates and locations, please visit https://thebloodconnection.org/ to find a time and location that is convenient for you.
Listen in as Madison speaks with Clint Harp, host of Magnolia Network’s “Restoration Road.” Clint shares about the eight years that he lived in North Carolina, as well as about how he has shared his talent and his passion for woodworking with his wife and his children.
Every four years, an extra day appears on our calendars… February 29. While this might seem like a simple correction to keep our time in sync with the Earth’s orbit, many cultures believe it’s much more than that. From marriage myths to supernatural fears, leap years have long been surrounded by strange superstitions.
We all know that a typical year has 365 days, but the Earth takes approximately 365.2422 days to complete one full orbit around the sun. Without the extra day every four years, the calendar would gradually fall out of sync with the seasons. But why was February chosen for this leap day? The Julian Calendar designated February 29th as the extra day when it was modified to better align with the solar year. While the leap year’s purpose is purely practical, many cultures have attached superstitions and traditions to it.
In several cultures, leap years are associated with bad luck. The old Italian saying “Anno bisesto, anno funesto” translates to “Leap year, doom year,” suggesting that misfortune and death are more common during these years. Similarly, in Greece, many couples avoid getting married in a leap year, fearing their union will be cursed with bad luck or an early divorce.
One of the most famous leap year traditions comes from Ireland and Scotland, where February 29 is considered “Bachelor’s Day.” According to legend, St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick that women had to wait too long for men to propose. As a solution, he allowed women to propose marriage on leap day. However, if a man refused the proposal, he was expected to compensate the woman, sometimes with a silk dress, gloves, or money.
People born on February 29, known as “Leaplings” or “Leap Year Babies,” are sometimes believed to be special… or cursed. Some old European traditions claimed leap day births were unlucky, while in other cultures, being born on this rare date was seen as a sign of uniqueness and good fortune. Many leaplings only get to “officially” celebrate their birthdays every four years, often choosing February 28 or March 1 in non-leap years.
Many agricultural superstitions warn farmers to be extra cautious during leap years. In some rural traditions, it’s believed that crops won’t grow properly or that livestock will be more prone to disease. There’s even an old Scottish saying: “A leap year is never a good seed year,” suggesting that the harvest will be poor and unpredictable.
Another widespread superstition is that leap years bring an increase in deaths. Some believe that people are more likely to pass away during a leap year due to the imbalance caused by the extra day. In certain cultures, people are especially wary of making big life decisions, such as moving, starting a business, or making major financial investments during a leap year.
Because leap day is so rare, there have been legal debates over when leaplings reach adulthood. In some places, if you’re born on February 29, the law recognizes your birthday as February 28 in non-leap years, while other places use March 1. This odd technicality has even led to legal loopholes in contracts and inheritance cases!
An old English law reportedly stated that any man who refused a woman’s leap-day marriage proposal had to buy her 12 pairs of gloves. The idea was that she could wear them to hide her shame of not having an engagement ring!
Some folklore claims that ghosts and spirits are more active on February 29 because the day exists outside the usual rhythm of time. In parts of Europe, people once believed that witches and supernatural beings gained extra powers during leap years!
There’s a long-standing belief that leap years bring global instability—whether political, economic, or environmental. Some point to major historical events that have occurred during leap years, such as wars, economic crashes, and natural disasters, to support the idea that these years are more unpredictable than others.
Whether leap years truly bring misfortune or just an extra day on the calendar, they have fascinated people for centuries. From eerie folklore to legal loopholes, this rare occurrence continues to spark myths, traditions, and a bit of mystery. Do you believe in any leap-year superstitions?
Listen as Kitty chats with Nesha Bartholomew Daubenspeck, Executive Director for 1ofus, a local nonprofit providing assistance to women who are living with breast cancer and other gynecological cancers.
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Enjoy Madison’s interview with Ira David Wood III, who has also played the role of Scrooge in the Theatre in the Park’s annual production of “A Christmas Carol” for the past 50 years. Ira shares his thoughts about retiring from the role with his 12/17/2023 performance, as well as about passing the role to his son for future seasons.
Watch Kitty’s interview with the Grinch below! Discover the magic of Dr. Seuss’ classic holiday tale as it comes to life on stage. The Grinch discovers there’s more to Christmas than he bargained for in this heart-warming holiday classic. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the Whos, an endlessly cheerful bunch bursting with holiday spirit.
Listen in as travel expert Madison Carrier offers travel tips and best practices, including how to maximize your travel budget, United Airlines’ new seating process, and how to most quickly reschedule a canceled flight.
What do you think of when you hear the name Randy? Well, Randy the cat matches whatever you’re thinking of perfectly. This sweet and cuddly guy has one very important question for you, do you have a couch he can take a nap on? At 9 years young, he’s just looking for a chill time and someone that won’t interrupt his many naps. Randy has been in our program for a little over a month and we can’t wait to see our favorite couch potato go into his forever home.
To adopt an animal in foster care, fill out an application online. Someone from our adoption team will be in touch once your application is approved.
Animal Protection Society of Durham
2117 East Club Blvd.
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-0640
96.1 BBB will be out at the Aluminum Company of NC for their fall open house on September 16th from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.! Come by and say hi, get some free food, and win some great prizes! You could even score a pair of tickets!