The last leap day was in 2020 – right before COVID shut down the world. Take a look back
February's special bonus day, which comes around roughly every four years, is only a hop, skip and jump away.
Leap day returns this year on Thursday, Feb. 29. Leap years typically occur every four years, meaning 2024, 2028 and 2032 will all be leap years. The last leap year took place in 2020, which, as you likely remember, was a hectic time.
From the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was turbulent.
But what else happened that year? How much have things changed in the last four years? Let's take a look.
What is leap day?
Leap day is an extra day added to the Gregorian Calendar every four years, leap year. The bonus day takes place at the end of February, on the 29th.
If we didn't have leap day, our calendars would be off by 25 days after 100 years, Florida Today reports. Our equinoxes and summer and winter solstices would no longer align with the seasons.
When was the last leap year?
The last leap day occurred on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, making 2020 the last leap year. Other previous leap years this century include 2016, 2012, 2008, 2004 and 2000.
What happened during the last leap day?
On Feb. 29, 2020, United States officials and Taliban representatives signed an agreement in Doha, ending the United States' longest war, which had been fought in Afghanistan since 2001. A joint statement was also released by the U.S. and the Afghan governments, saying that U.S. and NATO troops would withdraw from the country within 14 months.
On this day, Joe Biden also won the South Carolina primary election, gaining 48.6% of the vote over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who amassed 19.8%.
The first reported COVID-19 death in the United States occurred in Washington state during the last leap day, prompting Gov. Jay Inslee to declare a state of emergency in the state. At the time, over 50 people in a nursing facility in Washington were sick and being tested for the virus, per the Associated Press.
Lastly, on Feb. 28, Miller Lite canceled its leap day giveaway after a shooting took place at the company's plant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The shooting resulted in six deaths.
Molson Coors, which owns Miller Lite, announced on Twitter the free beer giveaway would be canceled due to the shooting. Fox News reports that the beer brand had planned to give away 5,000 24-packs of Miller Lite on leap day 2020.
What was life like during the last leap year?
Besides Feb. 29, what else happened during the year 2020? Let's take a look.
Australian bushfires burned 47 million acres, a record for the country. The fires also led to the deaths of at least 34 people and displaced thousands of other residents.
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, announced they were stepping down as "senior royals."
The COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm. In just a few months, the virus spread to over 20 million people around the world and led to roughly 751,000 deaths.
Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, along with his daughter, Gianna, and seven other passengers.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a global recession and a stock market crash after numerous countries went into lockdown.
A wave of Black Lives Matter protests and demonstrations were held across the world, demanding an end to police brutality and racial injustice after several unarmed Black people, including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, were killed by the police.
Ghislaine Maxwell, who was affiliated with Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested at her home in New Hampshire.
The Asian giant hornet, nicknamed "murder hornet," invaded Washington state. This was the first time the invasive insect was spotted in the U.S.
Actor Chadwick Boseman, known for playing T'Challa in "Black Panther," died from colon cancer at age 43.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died at the age of 87. She was the second woman in history to be appointed to the Supreme Court.
Rockstar Eddie Van Halen died from cancer at age 65.
Famous gameshow host Alex Trebek died from cancer at age 80.
Kamala Harris became the first Black vice president of the United States. She was also the first woman and first person of South Asian descent to become VP.
2020 vs. 2024 similarities and differences
Inflation rates
2020: The Consumer Price Index rose 6.8% between November 2020 and November 2021, mainly due to price increases for gasoline, food and housing.
2024: The Consumer Price Index rose 3.1% in January compared to the previous 12 months.
Unemployment rates
2020: The unemployment rate rose 13% during the second quarter of the year but fell to 6.7% by the fourth quarter.
2024: The unemployment rate was 3.7% in January for the third month in a row.
Super Bowlwinners
2020: The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl 54.
2024: The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Super Bowl 58.
Top movies
2020: "Parasite" won best picture at the 92nd Academy Awards. Other nominated films include "Ford V Ferrari," "The Irishman," "Jojo Rabbit," "Joker," "Little Women," "Marriage Story," "1917" and "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood."
2024: The 96th Academy Awards will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 10. Here are the films nominated for best picture: "American Fiction," "Anatomy of a Fall," "Barbie," "The Holdovers," "Killers of the Flower Moon," "Maestro," "Oppenheimer," "Past Lives," "Poor Things" and "The Zone of Interest."
Top musical artists
2020: Spofity's most streamed male and female artists of 2020 globally were Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish. Drake and Taylor Swift took the No. 2 spots, and J Balvin and Ariana Grande were No. 3. Swift additionally released two albums, "Folklore" and "Evermore."
2024: Spotify has yet to release its top artists of 2024 ranking. However, Taylor Swift was the most-streamed artist globally of 2023. Bad Bunny was No. 2 and The Weeknd was No. 3. Swift is set to release her 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department," in April.
Other historic events that happened on Feb. 29
Here's a list of other major news events that have occurred throughout history on Feb. 29, per Business Insider:
1692: The first warrants were issued for Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne and Tituba, three women accused in the Salem witch trials.
1940: Hattie McDaniel became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for her role as Mammy in "Gone with the Wind."
1964: James Ogilvy, a royal baby, was born on leap day to Princess Alexandra of Kent.
1972: Atlanta Braves player Hank Aaron became the highest-paid player in the MLB.
1980: American singer-songwriter Buddy Holly's glasses were found 20 years after he died in a plane crash.
1996: The siege of Sarajevo was lifted.
2012: Davy Jones, actor and band member of "The Monkees," died at age 66.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Comparing leap years: How 2024 is similar, different to 2020
