New Delhi, Feb 29 (IANS) Being born on Feb 29 is tricky business. It means that one born on this day, can officially celebrate a birthday only once in four years. However, the “leaplings” as the people born on this day are often called, celebrated the day in a big way.
Mohit Sharma is a government employee. Born on Feb 29, the 28-year-old celebrated his seventh birthday with close friends. “It’s a tricky business, having your birthday on the 29th. But it is also fun,” added the ‘tiny tot’.
Aamir Lone (20), an engineering student from Srinagar’s SSM College of Engineering and Technology said, “After four years, I was able to celebrate my real birthday with my friends. Of course, my friends had the big treat that they were expecting to make up for the missing years and I didn’t really mind it.”
Farhan Amin, studying in class 9, said “My birthday comes after every 4 years. Every year, my friends celebrate their birthdays, but I can’t. So this year, I am feeling very happy. Everyone has to wait for my birthday for 4 years. That makes my birthday special and unique from the birthdays of my friends. Also, I get big gifts to compensate for the missing years,” an elated Amin told IANS.
Former Indian prime minister, Morarji Desai too was a leapling. He was born on a leap day in 1896.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the only verified example of a family producing three consecutive generations born Feb 29 is that of an Irish family. Peter Anthony Keough was born in Ireland on Feb 29, 1940, while his son Peter Eric was born on a leap day in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1964. His daughter, Bethany Wealth, was in turn born in the UK Feb 29, 1996.
The earth revolves around the Sun in roughly 365.25 days. In the Gregorian calender, an extra day is added to February to compensate for the extra time taken in each revolution.
