Why can’t we take two days from the 31-day months and give them to February to balance things out?
Well I can’t answer the second question, but here’s a quick recap to bring us up to speed as to why we are where we are now. P.S. This answer has been lifted by a place called askeville.
Back in the days of Julius Caesar, the months alternated: 31 days, 30 days, 31 days, etc, for a total of 366 days. Then Julius decided he wanted a month named after him. He took the seventh month, named it July, and shoved the rest of the other months a notch down with the last month dropping off the end. That month only had 30 days, but he thought his month should be one of the largest. So he took a day out of February and added it to July, giving July 31 days and February 29.
Then when Augustus came along, he wanted a month as well. He couldn’t be ahead of Julius, so he took the month right after July and named it August. He shoved the other months down as Julius had done, and another one dropped off the end. That month had 31 days. Augustus couldn’t be outdone by Julius on the days, so he took another day out of poor February and added to August. February then had 28 days. We lost 31, and gained 30, for a total now of 365 days.
Did you ever wonder why December is the twelfth month and dec stands for ten? And October is the 10th month when oct stands for eight? Now you know.
When they found out the earth takes about 365 and 1/4 days to circle the sun, they had to add a day every four years, which is leap year. This is when February has 29 days. EXCEPT…that the earth takes “about” 365 and 1/4 days to go around, not “exactly”.
There is no scientific basis for each month having the number of days it has. A month originally represented the 28 day period of the moon’s cycle. But 12 x 28 = 336. Our year represents the time it takes the earth to go around the sun. As you can see, they don’t match up, so they had to pad the months up a little. This is why the full moon is on a different day every month. And also why women usually have 28 day cycles instead of 30. And why every month has four weeks (28 days) and then some extra days besides.
Here is even more info > http://www.wilkiecollins.demon.co.uk/roman/calhis.htm
