# What happens on May 33rd but only on leap year? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 4, 2000, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637 "2000-11-04T01:33:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![mellonhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@mellonhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mellonhead)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/101 "2001-01-06T05:19:32Z")
my boyfirend just threw in his 2 cents: Is it the 3rd time in the year that the last day of the month falls on a weekday (I think this is incorrect but I think he’s warm). ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/102 "2001-01-06T05:33:48Z")
Ummm, May has 31 days. So May 30 isn’t the last day of the month ever. ---
**Author:** ![OneChance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/74df32/32.png) [@OneChance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneChance)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/103 "2001-01-06T11:07:52Z")
The question is apparently, “What happens on May 33rd, but only on leap years?” I’m figurin’ there’s a woman named May Thirtythird somewhere and something happens on her that only happens to her on leap years. Like maybe sex. ---
**Author:** ![williambaskerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@williambaskerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williambaskerville)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/104 "2001-01-06T13:11:17Z")
I’m reminded of “When did Christmas Eve fall on Good Friday ?”. Christmas Eve was a racehorse. That can’t apply here because it “happens” not happened (racehorses could die between leap years) but I suspect May 33rd could be a street address or boat ? Essentially I suspect the key to it is that the question is posed to make you assume May 33rd refers to a date, and it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![GasDr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@GasDr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GasDr)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/105 "2001-01-06T14:27:55Z")
I agree with some of the other users. I believe that this is an event from a piece of obscure literature, like the election of the new Czar on the planet Nimbex occurs on this date in the Star Clods Trilogy by Travis Reeks. ---
**Author:** ![the\_O-man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9f8e36/32.png) [@the\_O-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_O-man)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/106 "2001-01-06T15:57:15Z")
My answer to the question, after extensive research, is Monday, if one is using the decimal calendar. Whether it is right or not remains to be seen. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/107 "2001-01-08T03:31:13Z")
I just thought I’d post and explain some of the answers that were definately WRONG!!! Some WRONG answers are: Nothing Memorial Day All the planets are in correct alignment Festival of Overlies in the Shire Julian calendar switched to Gregorian We don’t have taxes Correction for the difference between the lunar and solar cycle ---
**Author:** ![quixotic78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3ab097/32.png) [@quixotic78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quixotic78)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/108 "2001-01-08T06:10:48Z")
I’ve only had three thoughts while reading this thread… (1) Didn’t the French revolutionaries try to “metricize” the calendar and time in general? Or is that the decimal calendar everyone keeps bringing up? (2) If someone on here helps your friend win, do they get cut in on the goods? (3) Lousy Smarch weather… 🙂 Quix ---
**Author:** ![quixotic78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3ab097/32.png) [@quixotic78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quixotic78)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/109 "2001-01-08T06:23:43Z")
Another thought–doesn’t this question have really weird syntax? [http://www.execpc.com/~rwerning/ycw.html](http://www.execpc.com/~rwerning/ycw.html) has the question listed as, “What happens on May 33rd, but only on leap years?” Typically, isn’t the construction, “IN leap years?” Something like, “I change my car’s oil only IN Leap years.” The only time that one would say ON Leap years is when referring to February 29, Leap Years Day. “I went to the park on Leap Years Day.” Least, that’s the way I’ve always said it. Either that, or just call it Leap Day, or, more simply, February 29th. I think this question has got to be one of those riddles where the answer is dependent on the reader (or listener) misinterpreting a word. Like, maybe it’s Leaf Year and not Leap Year. Then again, two factors weighing against it: (1) DJs typically have clear voices, and so it’d be noticeable if they were slurring two words together. (2) Same URL above says, “_**This one seemed close from Brians [sic] response**_ The difference between the lunar cycle and the solar cycle trying to rectify the two by adding an intercalendar month of 33 days” [emphasis in original]. That’d seem to discount the “misinterpretation” theory. Then again, that’s just the author of the page’s opinion… he could be way off. Just thinking out loud here, don’t mind me. Quix P.S. Could be something pseudo-obvious, like “May 33rd falls a day later than it does in non-Leap years,” or “May ends up having 33 days instead of 31.” ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/110 "2001-01-08T08:52:09Z")
This is just a goofy WAG, but perhaps the question refers to a calender applied to a different planet, such as Mars, which has a “year” of about 668 days, and “months” as long as 63 days. [here](http://www-star.stanford.edu/~frankb/cal.html) is more detail. I know, it sounds stupid, but those radio guys seem pretty sneaky. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jdl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@jdl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdl)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/111 "2001-01-09T04:38:38Z")
I check **Lexis-Nexis** for any reference to this darned May 33rd thing. **I found nothing**. This is nuts! I agree with those that think this is some kind of silly literary reference. Is there some kind of e-book site where we can keyword search the contents of books? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/112 "2001-01-27T07:35:40Z")
cuz I need to know the answer to this!!! ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/113 "2001-01-27T14:30:27Z")
Hmmm… Pope Gregory XIII dropped 10 days from October when he instituted the calendar so that it could catch up to the solar year… ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/114 "2001-01-27T16:47:08Z")
This puzzle is infuriating. If it is a literary reference I think someone would have gotten it by now, unless the reference was so very obscure, which would violate the rules of a fair puzzle. If it is a literary reference, it must refer to fantasy literature, and probably children’s literature. Dr. Seuss comes to mind, but I can’t place a reference there. May 33rd could rhyme easily with other words… Could May be an acronym for something? Could “Leap Year” refer to something other than the common meaning? I’ll be disappointed with myself if someone posts the correct answer, and it is something I could have figured out. Sigh, I had so much else I needed to do today. 33-- what is it about that number. Arrrgh! ---
**Author:** ![messiah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@messiah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/messiah)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/115 "2001-01-27T17:07:30Z")
the 33rd of may in a normal year falls in the 32nd week in a leap year if it existed it would fall in the 33rd week Just an idea ---
**Author:** ![messiah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@messiah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/messiah)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/116 "2001-01-27T17:19:21Z")
the question asked what WOULD happen on the 33rd. Therefore my answer above s/b the 23rd week starts. Sorry Mods for creating two posts, instead of one, i’ve allready noticed the system slowing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/117 "2001-01-27T17:24:50Z")
Once again, a site tracking the game is here, for people who aren’t reading this entire thread: [http://www.execpc.com/~rwerning/](http://www.execpc.com/~rwerning/) Some more clues have been given, and a lot of wrong answers are listed. In particular: > [@](#): > > Brian said - Don’t want a mathamatical event, it’s the event that occurs on the day. That’s with our current Gregorian calendar … one must ask why the calendar is called gregorian … maybe named after Gregore or something. So someone could invent a calendar … (at which point Bob cut him off) > > Bob said - Here’s a hint, just go to the library and start reading the books. (this during a conversation on 1/23 where they were discussing how people are swamping the internet, and how the answer hasn’t been found there). > > Bob said - there’s no Pope Gregory in the answer. > > Brian said - I have the calendar in question in my left hand … there is no gregory or gegorian here anywhere. Those rather oblique hints, and a pile of wrong answers suggest to me that it IS some obscure reference in some fantasy book, as we’ve been supposing. But it has to be REALLY obscure for nobody to have stumbled across it. Him having the calendar in question in his left hand suggests to me that it may not actually be in the text of the book, but some whimsey on the part of an illustrator. The clues DO seem to eliminate the wordplay tricks, except for one I can think of: suppose “May” is the name of an author or a book, and the 33rd refers to a page? Some sort of yearly guide in a fixed format which winds up with a particular event on page 33 only on leap years? ---
**Author:** ![messiah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@messiah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/messiah)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/118 "2001-01-27T17:34:41Z")
Start Again The 33rd of May is the end of week 22, only in a leap year (my 7 division was always appalling). Mods feel free to deduct 3 penalty points from my post tally 🙂 [The server has now come to a halt] ---
**Author:** ![Tretiak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/119 "2001-01-27T17:52:08Z")
Well I am going to WAG that it is some sort of formal calculated date for Easter or Passover. As an interesting adjunct to this, check out the link and notice the reference to September 33 in the Passover section… [http://quasar.as.utexas.edu/BillInfo/ReligiousCalendars.html](http://quasar.as.utexas.edu/BillInfo/ReligiousCalendars.html) ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637/120 "2001-01-27T17:54:15Z")
Is there any way we could get the _ **EXACT** _ phrasing of this riddle, from the horse’s mouth if at all possible. For instance, is it ‘on leap _year_’ or ‘on leap _years_’? Is it ‘_on_ leap year(s)’ or ‘_in_ leap year(s)’? Once this is firmly established, several possibilities can be eliminated. Is this riddle **officially** _written_ somewhere? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-on-may-33rd-but-only-on-leap-year/39637.md?page=7)