Leap Year Birthday Myths & Facts

Every 4 years, the calendar contains an additional date - 29th Feb. This additional day in the year makes it a leap year which keeps the calendar aligned with the solar system. Earth revolves around the sun and completes one revolution in 365 days, five hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds or you can say 365.25 days. Instead of adding 0.25 days to the calendar every year, it makes more sense to add a whole day every 4 years. All those born on this extra day of the year i.e. 29th February are known as leap year babies, leaplings, or leapers.

Facts About Leap Year Birthdays

Bachelor’s Day & Rare Disease Day

February 29th is celebrated as the Bachelor’s Day in Ireland. It is a traditional holiday where women propose to men. In some parts of the world, it is also marked as rare disease day.

Honour Society For Leap Year Babies

Those born on this day are a part of an honorary club. The website says “Membership in the society is free but is restricted to people born on Leap Year Day.” It was launched in 1997 and currently has over 11,000 members. You can enrol through the website or their Facebook page. They even arrange meetings, if there are any leap your borns in your area.

Leap Year Capital

The twin cities of Anthony, Anthony and Texas, New Mexico, is the self-proclaimed leap year capital of the world. They have 4 leap year festivals, including big birthday parties for everyone born on that day.

Someone Was Born & Died on 29th February

Sir James Milne Wilson, who served as the Premier of Tasmania was born on 29th February 1812 and died on 29th February 1880.

Three Consecutive Generations With Leap Year Babies

There is one verified family with 3 consecutive generations with Leap Year Birthdays, the Keogh family. It was Peter Anthony(1940, Ireland), his son- Eric (1964, UK), and his granddaughter- Bethany Wealth(1996, UK).

Siblings Born on Leap Year Day

Karin and Henry Henriksen from Norway have 3 children- Heidi(1960), Olav (1964) and Leif-Martin (1968). All the 3 siblings share their birthday on 29th February.

Mother & Daughter Born on Leap Year Day

Michelle Birnbaum from Saddle River, New Jersey was born on 29th Feb 1980. She gave birth to her daughter Rose on 29th February 2008.

Famous People Born on Leap Year

Jeffrey Bruce Atkins- An American Rapper, Rakhi Thakrar- English Actress, Morarji Desai- 4th Prime Minister of India, Tony Robbins- American Author, and many other famous people were born on 29th February.

Myths About Leap Year Birthdays

Those Born on 29th Feb are Unlucky

People in Scotland believe that leapers will have lifelong suffering. While the belief was only limited to Scottish people, Indians believe it too.

People Born on Leap Year Day have Unusual Talents

Some astrologers believe that leapers have unusual talents. It said that they are lucky and special.

No Divorce Leap Year

In Greece, couples believe that it is a bad omen to get divorced during a leap year. It is said that if they get separated during a leap year, they may never find happiness again.

A Man can not refuse a Woman’s plea to marriage

If a woman proposes a man on leap year day, the man has to say yes. It started as a tradition to just propose men, now is a myth that men can’t say no.