Leap years. The day that only comes once every four years. Let's start this post, then, with something totally unrelated.
I know someone who was born on July 4.
Here in the United States, July 4th is our Independence Day. It's celebrated with fireworks, outdoor BBQ's, and parades (not necessarily in that order). In my youth, most people had the day off. It's a national holiday.
I asked this person once, how old were you when you first realized all the celebrations weren't to celebrate your birthday? She just chuckled. Maybe she's been asked that a lot.
It makes me think, every February 29, about all those born on February 29. Technically, they only have a birthday to celebrate once every four years. It's kind of the opposite of the Fourth of July. No fireworks. No bonfires. No parades.
They only get to celebrate their true birthdays once every four years.
So, what about these people?
Some talented people were born on February 29.
So what happens if you are born on February 29?
Congratulations! You have the rarest birthday a person can have. There's only a one in 1,461 chance a baby will be born on February 29. The link in the last sentence also explains why a leap day every four years in our Gregorian calendar.
Most people born on that date celebrate (except in leap years) either on February 28 or March 1.
February 29 remains your legal birthdate for official IDs.
But you don't age 1/4 as fast as the rest of us.
And you have restaurants and other businesses celebrating with specials - like these.
So, if today is your birthday, celebrate it in style. You are special! (although maybe not as special as someone born on July 4th....only kidding!)
And if any of my readers happen to have a birthday today - happy birthday!
...only one in 1,461 chance, who knew?
ReplyDeleteMy son got married yesterday in Thailand. Because of the time difference, it was Feb 29 there. Wonder what day they will celebrate when they eventually return here?
ReplyDeleteBTW, I was born on Armistice Day, so having worked in government, I never worked on my birthday.
ReplyDeleteBeing born on February 29 would really make such a birthday extra special, wouldn't it? Boring old August 9 for me!
ReplyDeleteI knew a young girl born on leap day. She loved to say how young she was!
ReplyDeleteGilbert & Sullivan used it as the basis of one of their operettas…
ReplyDeleteYears ago, my brother went to a birthday party for one of his friends. Her fourth. I wondered why my 16-something brother would go to a four-year-old's party. Then he laughed and told me it was actually her 16th. Oh. It was the first time I realized the complexity of being born on February 29.
ReplyDeleteAt least it isn't like Brigadoon. Those people only get their special day once every 100 years! ;)
Oops. That last comment was me...Diane!
ReplyDeleteI wrote this comment on Songbird's blog, but it applies here as well: I once read in a book on calendars that in Roman times the leap day was inserted between February 23rd & 24th (or was it the 24th & 25th?). So, if I were to encounter anyone born today, I would tell them that they can celebrate the 28th in other years, as it's leap year Feb 24ths that really lost the day...
ReplyDeleteSeems a lot of myths about leap day
ReplyDeleteIt's all how you look at it. I love your perspective of "congratulation, you have the rarest birthday a person can have!!" Oh, and my daughter was born on the 4th of July. For a long time she thought everyone celebrated her birthday!
ReplyDelete