Leaping Lizards... it's a Leap Year! Quiz

Answer: Julius Caesar

The first Leap Year was proclaimed in 45BC.
The Romans had a 355 day year, which made it difficult to calculate the right dates for festivals etc. They had a complicated way of making adjustments, but Julius Caesar decided to simplify matters and asked the astronomer Sosigenes to come up with a better way. The result was the Julian Calendar, which was in use until the Gregorian Calendar was invented in 1582 under Pope Gregory XIII as a more accurate way of measuring the passage of time.
The Julian Calendar is still used in some places in the world.

Answer: The Pirates of Penzance

Frederic, whose birthday is on 29th February, is apprenticed to the Pirates of Penzance. His indenture states that he cannot be released from the apprenticeship until his 21st birthday. He falls in love with Mabel, the daughter of Major General Stanley.

A 'Slave to Duty', Frederic decides that he must complete his apprenticeship and that they cannot marry for another 63 years. Mabel promises to wait for him. Aaaaah.

Answer: Propose to the man of their choice

According to legend, this is a tradition that goes back many hundreds of years, and it is found in many countries. As far as I know, there is nothing enshrined in law about it, but it seems likely that 29th February is/was regarded, unofficially at least, as a day that has no real status, because it only exists as a means to sort out the calendar. On such a day, the usual rules perhaps don't apply.

Oddly enough, at the time the Julian calendar was introduced, they did things rather differently, and instead of one day added at the end of the month, it was on 24th February - and they had TWO 24th February. It's all rather complicated, but if you are interested enough you can find out more online. There is a very useful entry on Wiktionary.

Answer: Christopher Columbus

Columbus was in Jamaica at the time, and having problems getting the native islanders to co-operate with supplying food and provisions. Columbus was aware that an eclipse was due, so he threatened the islanders with awful punishments if they resisted. The eclipse duly occurred and the terrified islanders resumed co-operation.

Answer: Salem Witchcraft Trials

The Salem Witchcraft Trials were not the first occurrence in Massachusetts of mass hysteria leading to persecution of so-called witches. A deep belief in the Devil, together with the isolation of the communities involved, was a breeding ground for superstition.
In 1692 the bizarre behaviour of two children, Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, led to many local people being accused of witchcraft. Between January and September hundreds were arrested, and of these 19 were hanged, one pressed to death and at least five died in prison.
The Salem Witch Trials have been compared with the mass hysteria that surrounded the Communist Witch Hunts led by Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s.

Answer: The Shakers

Ann Lee was born in Manchester. She married and endured eight pregnancies, but disliked sexual relations. She advocated celibacy and the pursuit of perfection. Correctly titled 'The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Coming', the Shakers practised 'Ecstatic Dancing' and were much mocked and persecuted for their beliefs. In 1774 she and a small group of followers left Britain for America in order to have the freedom to practise their religion. Ann died in 1784.

Nowadays the 'Shaker' style in furniture is still admired for its simple form and functionality.

Answer: Switzerland

The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 by three rural communities. The purpose was to band together to resist attack by would-be conquerors. In the seventeenth century the 30-Years War that ravaged the rest of Europe left Switzerland untouched, and convinced the Swiss that armed neutrality was the best way to protect their country.
There was often deep disagreement between the members of the Confederation, but in 1848 it was decided to move towards a tighter union, which would favour economic development and end any possibility of the breakup of Switzerland.
They seem to have made the right decision - today, Switzerland is one of the world's most prosperous and peaceful countries.

Answer: The Crimean War

The Crimean War lasted from 1854 to 1856, and the casualties were appalling, as much from disease as from wounds. The organisation was unbelievably inefficient with insufficient or inappropriate supplies. This was the war that brought Florence Nightingale to fame for her nursing and administrative work in trying to improve the terrible conditions in the military hospital at Scutari. Regarded as the first 'modern war' for its tactical use of the telegraph and railways, the Crimean was also the first war where photography and reporting were present, notably by Roger Fenton and William Russell for the 'Times' newspaper.

Answer: Benjamin Disraeli

Disrael was Prime Minister twice and was a firm favourite of Queen Victoria. Born into a Jewish family, he was baptized into the Anglican Church as a child and remained a faithful member all his life.
He was a reformer, and the Artisans' Dwelling Improvement Act and the Public Housing Act of 1875, together with the Education Act of 1876, were all designed to improve the lot of the working man. They were passed during his second administration.
Disraeli was also a writer and wrote several novels, some of which are still in print.

Answer: The Beatles, 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'

'Sgt Pepper' was the Beatles' 8th studio album, produced by George Martin and released on the Parlophone label. It was released on June 1st 1967 and became an immediate best seller; it is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time.