Sir, The National Trust “staff day off” on February 29 (report, Feb 12) is misplaced. The extra (intercalary) day in a leap day falls on February 24, six days (counting inclusively) before the Kalends (first) of March. This is where the Romans put it and, as far as I know, no one in this country has yet bothered to move it.
It explains the word “bissextile” in the Book of Common Prayer. Perhaps our current Government could attend to this matter. This anomaly was corrected in Finland and Sweden in 2000, when the academic committees responsible for publishing the almanac of namedays (associated with saints’ days) moved the leap day from February 24 to February 29. Before then, for example, Matti and Matias would celebrate their nameday on February 24, but on February 25 in a leap year.
It is those born on February 24 in a leap year who have the problem with their anniversary in other years.
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John Chambers
Tadworth, Surrey