SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News/AP)- 2024 is a leap year. This means an extra day is added to the shortest month of the year.
Leap year exists in order to keep the 12 months in sync with annual events. This includes both equinoxes and solstices, according to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology.
“Without the leap years, after a few hundred years we will have summer in November,” said Younas Khan, a physic instructor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “Christmas will be in summer. There will be no snow. There will be no feeling of Christmas.”
To celebrate, this once every four years occurrence, many food companies are giving out deals and/or freebies on leap day.
Chipotle:
Chipotle announced in a social media post on Tuesday, that it will be giving out free guacamole for a year, through a challenge its holding that started on at 9 a.m. PT Feb. 26 and ends on Feb.29. Each day those playing will be challenged with finding hidden words that can be found in posts the company makes on the platform. The post notes if you find a word to text it to 888222.
“This leap year, the extra day means free chipotle guac for a year … if you can find the codes,” the restaurant chain wrote on Instagram.
Chipotle also announced a deal for its rewards members. By using who the code EXTRA24 at checkout on the Chipotle app and on their website, members will receive free guac on Feb. 29.
Krispy Kreme:
On Monday Krispy Kreme announced that it’s giving out multiple deals for leap day. The first deal offers guests a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for just $2.29 with the purchase of any regularly priced dozen.
Those who have a birthday on leap day, Feb. 29, can receive a free Original Glazed dozen at any of their stores. Proof of birthday is required.
Wendy’s:
The fast food chain announced that customers can receive a free Cinnabon Pull-Apart, which is a new menu item, during their breakfast hours from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
The deals are coupled with the food chain four year anniversary of serving breakfast.
“As we celebrate our four-year breakfast anniversary with this new product, we’re offering sweet deals starting on Leap Day- a day that only comes around every-four years,” Lindsay Radkoski, U.S. chief marketing officer for the Wendy’s company, said in a statement.
The next leap years are 2028, 2032 and 2036.
