10 surprising things about Leap Year babies
February 29 comes once every four years - a day that must surely be one of the quietest days on the calendar for midwives! Here are some surprising things you might not have known about this special day.
- Leap day, on February 29th falls only every four years
- In New Zealand, for babies born on February 29, their birthday legally falls on February 28 in a non-leap year.
- People born on this date are referred to as “Leaplings” or “Leapers”
- Being a leapling is rare. Your odds are 1 in 1461, with only 5 million world-wide
- While there are a number of famous leaplings – our favourite is Superman (How apt – all that leaping off tall buildings!)
- According to tradition , the tables are turned in a leap year and a woman may propose to a man … Oh, how times have changed!
- In Taiwan, married daughters traditionally return home during the leap month as it is believed the lunar month can bring bad health to parents.The daughters are told to bring pig trotter noodles to wish them good health and good fortune
- The frog is the symbol associated with February 29 and Leap Day.
- Apart from having to wait four years between birthdays, facing suspicion from bouncers, doctors and government agencies their birth date, and putting up with endless jokes about their diminished age can be frustrating - most leaplings seem pretty happy to be part of this special and exclusive club!