Today is 22.02.2022, a date which creates a rare phenomenon.
The date has been dubbed Twosday, as it also falls on a Tuesday, with people on social media hailing a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Here’s everything you need to know about how palindromes and ambigrams work.
What is a palindrome and an ambigram?
The factor that makes 22.02.2022 so rare is that it is both a palindrome and an ambigram.
A palindrome can be read the same way both forwards and backwards.
An ambigram is something that can be read the same way both up and down, which applies to 22.02.2022 when written on a calculator.
This phenomenon has only happened once before, more than a thousand years ago (when calculators were in short supply), on 11.01.1011
There will never be a 33.03.3033 as there is not month with 33 days in it, so it really is a unique date.
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Of course, we can write the date slightly differently as 22.2.22, and earlier this month we had 2.22.22.
This has happened twice before since the dates 1/11/11 and 11/11/11, and the next one will not occur for another 11 years – 3/3/33.
22.02.2022 will never happen again, although there will be a 22.2.22 in 100 years.
There will also be the 22.2.2222, but that will fall on a Friday.
Are people celebrating 22/02/2022?
Some people have decided to celebrate “Twosday” to mark its rarity.
22/02/2022
— Stonehenge (@EH_Stonehenge) February 22, 2022
Today’s palindrome date is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence for you, but Stonehenge was there for 11/11/1111! #twosday #onesday pic.twitter.com/jw0ihyzrmf
Some have taken to Twitter to acknowledge the day, others have given honour to people who sport the number two stop in sports.
The Stonehenge Twitter account remarked that the stones have been standing since before 11.11.1111.
It said: “22/02/2022 Today’s palindrome date is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence for you, but Stonehenge was there for 11/11/1111!”
Some have said they will celebrate at 22.22 on the 22.02.2022.
Google has also arranged for confetti and “2s” to fall on your screen when you search for “Twosday”.
Humans have evolved to find comfort in patterns. An example of humans putting patterns on dates was 12.12.2012, when some people thought it would be doomsday.
People who are interested in numerology have expressed an interest in what the day might mean for them.
In astrology, the number two symbolises union between two people. It. is about collaboration and teamwork, and according to astrologists the energy of February this year is of partnership.