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How Does Costa Mesa Still Benefit from The Year of Confusion?

Costa Mesa real estate’s high energy busy season may already be underway, but the beginning of March is often tagged as its official opening. That means that this year it will be delayed by the once-in-every-fourth-year event—the Leap Day on Saturday, Feb. 29th. Fortunately, it won’t trigger riots in the streets (as there were in 1582), nor will there need to be another “Year of Confusion” (as when Julius Caesar got involved).

This week, Costa Mesa elementary school pupils will be introduced to “leap years” and “leap days.”  They’ll be told that it takes a quarter of a day longer than 365 days for the Earth to make one revolution around the Sun, so the calendar needs a little tinkering to set things right. So Saturday will be Catchup Day.

The tinkering started in ancient times. Before Julius Caesar introduced a new-and-improved 12-month calendar, the Romans had let things get out of hand. Their 355-day version was based on lunar cycles rather than the Sun’s—so to keep yearly holidays and events from wandering aimlessly through different seasons, the Emperor put his sandal-clad foot down.

He decreed a new Sun-based calendar year. The transition required a one-time 90-day, 15-month corrective year. Those who lived through that experience called it “Annus Confusionus”—the “Year of Confusion.” We can thank our lucky stars Costa Mesa will never have to suffer through anything like that. Julius Caesar was so pleased with himself for successfully adding the three months that he named one of them after himself: July.

 All was calm for the next 1682 years, until, in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII listened to the astronomers and moved to correct an inaccuracy that had been accumulating. It turns out that a 365 ¼ day solar orbit is actually off by 11 minutes and 14 seconds every year. The Pope’s one0-time correction meant skipping the ten days between Oct. 4 and Oct. 15, 1582. Riots erupted when ill-informed workers thought they’d been ripped off; they demanded their ten days’ pay!

Which brings us up to date, and this Saturday’s extra day. If Costa Mesa real estate matters are likely to appear on your own 2020 calendar, this will be a perfect day to give us a call!   

We are built on a philosophy of Heritage & Hustle. The L3 is a full service real estate agency with a regional office located in the heart of #CostaMesa, offering a wide-array of custom services to meet their clients’ needs with roots in the community since 1976.  It’s L3 mission is to provide trusted, convenient, responsive service to ensure clients enjoy their real estate experience. The L3 was originally formed to offer personal, concierge-level service as an alternative to the large, nationally based real estate companies. From its small beginnings of only two employees, The L3 has grown to a full staff of 25 serving over 300 clients a year. The L3 is not limited to serving just its clients; it is also committed to serving the community. Not only has The L3 donated hundreds of hours to many area charities, they have also received the prestige of being named one of the #toprealestatecompaniesinCostaMesa  If you’re interested in #buyingorsellinginOrangeCounty, turn to the experts. Turn to The L3 and let them help you make your real estate buying or selling dreams come true. For more information or to get started on finding or selling your home contact The L3 today at 714-444-4663 or email us at info@thel3.com

 

 

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