A man is petitioning for the leap day on February 29 to move to June 31st - so we get an extra day of summer to cheer people up. PHOTO BY RDNE STOCK PROJECT/PEXELS
A man is petitioning for the “leap day” on February 29 to move to June 31st – so we get an extra day of summer to “cheer people up”.
Chris Snowdon, 47, first had the idea last year when he realized the leap day being on February 29 is “arbitrary”.
He said the date is “just something we all agree as a society” – so he suggested the change to a “better” day.
He said it would have to be in June – as July and August already have 31 days each – but June still stands a chance of good weather.
The public wellbeing campaigner from Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, said: “When we get to the 29th February, people say ‘oh great, another day in February’.
“It’s like you have to wait an extra day until March which is when you expect the weather to pick up.
“I realize changing the days won’t change the weather, but it’s a mental thing.
“I think it would improve public wellbeing in the Northern Hemisphere.
“I thought I’d start with the British Government if they can get the ball rolling. But ideally, we’d need every government in the world to agree.
“I’m not confident we’ll see reform by February 28th this year, but who knows how public opinion might have changed by 2028?
“An extra day of summer, one less day of winter – what’s not to like if you like summer?
“People will look back on this one day and think ‘Why didn’t anyone think of this sooner?'”
Chris launched a Change.org petition on January 28 – which garnered over 100 signatures in a day.
Chris said when he explained the idea to a friend, they agreed it was a “no brainer”.
The petition reads: “Every four years we all get an extra day of life thanks to the system of leap years.
“But why have an extra day in February (cold, dark) when we could have an extra day in June (lovely summer)?”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
Get news, handpicked just for you, in your box.
