Last Sunday, February 2nd, 2020 made for an unusual day! A special day known as the Palindrome Day. Maths geeks around the world celebrated this rare day that – unless they’re very, very young – it’s certain to happen only once in their lifetimes, reports BBC.
What is a Palindrome Day?
This is, of course, palindrome day, when the date – in this case 02/02/2020 – reads the same way back to front.
What’s so special this time?
But while palindrome days come and go – 20/02/2002 is another example – this one is special.
Unlike the date in 2002, this one reads the same in the US, where dates are written as month-day-year instead of day-month-year as in much of the rest of the world.
It also works for China and a handful of other countries which put the year first.
What is a palindrome?
The last time a palindrome like this happened was 11 November 1111. (Which is really beside the point, because no-one was using our current dating systems in those days anyway.)
In that year:
- Crusaders led by Baldwin I of Jerusalem were fighting the Turks in what is now northern Syria
- Henry I, fourth son of William the Conqueror, was king of England
- Afonso I, founder of the kingdom of Portugal, was born
Upcoming Palindrome Day
We don’t have to wait quite so long for the next international palindrome day, though – it’s 12 December 2121. Who knows? Some of us may even live to see it.
Okay as well as 02/02/2020 being #PalindromeDay I’ve just found out it’s the 33rd day of the year with 333 days to go and that makes me a very happy maths boy indeed ?
— Harry Baker (@harrybakerpoet) February 2, 2020
Trivia & Interesting Facts
Those who are super-engaged with dates and numbers will have pointed out another anomaly.
Happy #PalindromeDay (02/02/2020)! It’s also the 33rd day of the year with 333 days until the end of the year. pic.twitter.com/jK6w79YwJi
— Debbie Ridpath Ohi (@inkyelbows) February 2, 2020
- Sunday 2 February is number 33 in days of the year – 33 being another palindrome.
- And as this is a leap year, it’s also 333 days from the end of the year – a third palindrome.
- Meanwhile, many social media users have been pointing out that this palindrome day coincides with another major event in the North American calendar.
- As the dawn came up over the US state of Pennsylvania, the world’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, predicted an early spring.
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Source: BBC
