Today is February 29th - Leap Day. This is an occurrence that happens every 4 years.
In Germany, it is called Schalttag. The Schalttag happens in a Schaltjahr.
Schalt means switch. Schalten is the infinitive verb form (to switch).
Schalt + tag (day) = Leap Day
Schalt + jahr (year) = Leap Year
Another word that comes to mind for me is Lichtschalter
Licht + schalter = light switch!
A typical German light switch as I remember looks like this:
But I also remember in the Keller (cellar) of my German grandparents' apartment building, there was a very old light switch that looked like this:
In any case, I hope you enjoyed your extra day this year - your Schalttag!
By the way, I read today that in true German fashion there is actually a law pertaining to any person born on February 29th. Of course! It is that on non-leap years, you turn your next full age on March 1st (never on February 28). So, for example, when you turn 18 and become volljährig (an adult, "of age"), you are not considered an adult until March 1st if your 18th birthday falls on a leap year.
And that is just a little "tidbit" - a small bite - of German.
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