Which month has only 29 days in a month?

No month in the standard Gregorian calendar has only 29 days. While February is the only month that can have 29 days, it does not exclusively have 29 days, as it typically has 28 days for the majority of years.

February: The Month with a Variable Length

February is unique among the months because its length fluctuates depending on the year:

• Common Years: In most years, February consists of 28 days.
• Leap Years: Approximately every four years, an extra day is added to February, making it 29 days long. This phenomenon, known as a leap day, is fundamental to how our modern calendar, the Gregorian Calendar, stays aligned with Earth's astronomical movements.

The Role of Leap Years

The concept of a leap year is crucial for keeping our calendar accurate. Earth's orbit around the Sun doesn't take precisely 365 days; it takes approximately 365.25 days. Without periodically adding an extra day, the calendar would gradually drift out of sync with the seasons over time. The practice of adding a leap day to February originates from ancient Roman calendar reforms.

Days in Each Month of the Gregorian Calendar

To provide context, here's a table showing the number of days in each month:

Historical Context of February's Length

The reason February was chosen to host the extra day in a leap year dates back to the Roman calendar. Historically, February was the last month of the Roman year. When Julius Caesar reformed the calendar, establishing the 365-day year with an extra day every four years, February remained the designated month for this "intercalary" day. This system, refined over centuries and leading to the Gregorian Calendar we use today, ensures that our calendar remains synchronized with the Earth's natural orbit.