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The short answer is that we inherited the calendar from the Romans who originally had calendars of ten months starting in March (spring), the winter days being simply "off calendar." When the winter months were created, there were twelve months: 7 with 29, 1 with 28, and 4 with 31 to make 355 days.

As this threw the calendar off related to the observed seasons, a 13th "leap month" or "intercalary" would be added between February and March which had 27 days, and February was reduced to either 23 or 24. The reforms of 45 BC led to the Julian calendar with the same number of days in each month as currently observed. February inherited the intercalary day (February 29), every 4 years with some exceptions.

Because there are 365.25 days in a year and every 4 years that is a leap year an extra day is added to February.

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7y ago

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