In Ayurveda, there are urges to not resist and doing so is harmful to the body. An urge can be yawning, going to the bathroom, burping, sleeping, crying, etc. Holding in these urges can put stress on the body and interrupt proper detoxification processes. Every urge has a purpose that connects to helping movement and cleansing. We regenerate a lot during sleep, which is why the body has an urge for rest. We may need to cough to clear the throat or drink water for cellular hydration . Crying is an emotional urge that carries more importance than we may think. In the Vedic texts, there are the 13 urges to not resist, called vega dharana or vega vidharan: Belching, flatulence, bowel movements, urination, sneezing, thirst, hunger, sleeping, coughing, yawning, crying, vomiting and ejaculating. The Ashtanga Hridaya (Vedic text) also mentions the urge to heavily breathe after exertion. There are other urges that we can think of such as laughing, screaming or shouting in an urgent situation. O...
The Reason behind the Leap Year
Every leap year features an extra day added to the end of February, giving February 29 days instead of the usual 28. This bonus day happens because there isn’t actually 365 days in a year, but rather 365.242190 days. To compensate for this extra time, an extra day needs to be added approximately every four years.
Interesting Trivia about Leap Years
Here are some interesting trivia tidbits about leap years:
- If you’re born on February 29, you’re known as a “leaper” or a “leapling.” These are uncommon nicknames, indeed, since only people born on this rare day enjoy them.
- Want to take the kids on a field trip to celebrate the leap year? Head to Anthony, Texas, or Anthony, New Mexico. Both claim the title of “Leap Year Capital of the World.” To celebrate the leap year, the town in Texas holds a large festival that features square dancing, fun events, and activities on a nearby farm, and it even offers a tour through an Aztec cave.
- The ancient Egyptians were the first people who figured out their calendar didn’t actually work without a leap year added.
- February 29 became the official leap day because of the ancient Romans, who added this extra day to the Roman calendar used during the Roman Empire. Roman emperor Julius Caesar also incorporated the leap year into the calendar he created, known as the Julian calendar.
- The people of Greece believe getting married on a leap year will only bring bad luck. However, other cultures like Great Britain and Ireland believe a leap year is the time when women should ask men to get married instead of the usual custom of men asking women.
Fun Things to Do on Leap Day
Here are some fun ways you and the kids can celebrate leap day, on February 29:
1. Write a letter to yourself to be opened four years later on the next leap year.
2. Frogs are associated with leap day, which is why you should make some frog origami, play a game of leap frog with classmates, or make a frog puppet.
3. If you’re born on February 29, you might consider joining the Honor Society of Leap Year Babies, which offers free membership to anyone born on this special day.
4. Build a “leaping” collage featuring animals that are known to leap high and far, including kangaroos, frogs, cheetahs, and lemurs.
5. Read a book that has the leap year as its theme, such as The Leap Year Book by Barbara Sutton-Smith.
6. Learn about the mathematics behind the leap year to give your brain a workout.
7. Make a leap day time capsule.
Ultimately, every leap year is an opportunity for students to learn and play. You only get to celebrate it once every four years, so use this opportunity to do something special.
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