We all look forward to having our birthday each year, like our milestone Sweet 16 and the coveted 21st. But what if you could only celebrate your birthday once every four years, like David Fagan and Sara Minsley?

Fagan and Minsley were both born on Feb. 29, commonly known as Leap Day. It only occurs once every four years except on century years not divisible by 4, like 1900, to account for the fact that each year lasts approximately 365.242 days. The leap year was first instituted by Julius Caesar, and the Gregorian calendar added the century rule toensure that the days of the year would be more accurate.

Both sophomores born in 1992, Fagan and Minsley are turning 5 today. They share why they love having such a distinctive birthday.

February Fagan

Fagan is extra proud of his birthday because of its rarity.

‘It’s unique. Not many people have it,’ said Fagan, a civil engineering major.

But having a special birthday comes with a few minor difficulties. For instance, Facebook messes up his birthday when it isn’t on a leap year.

‘It doesn’t really know what to do,’ he said. ‘I think it might say my birthday is on February 28 and March 1.’

The main problem with being a leap year baby is deciding when to celebrate the big day when it doesn’t fall on a leap year. Fagan usually celebrates on Feb. 28, or the weekend that is closest to the 28th, simply because he likes February better.

When Fagan’s birthday does come once every four years, he said it’s more fun and a bigger celebration for someone who doesn’t have an official birthday once a year.

‘I was going to try and have a party, but my birthday is in the middle of the week,’ Fagan said about this year’s celebration. ‘But my dad is coming up, so we’re going to hang out.’

For Fagan’s dad, Andrew, the most memorable birthday was the night his son was born, though Fagan’s motherwas concerned that he would be sad not to have a specific birthday date.

Thankfully, Fagan isn’t upset with having a Leap Day birthday.

‘Over the years, I think David has enjoyed the novelty of being a ‘Leap Baby’ more than any frustration with not having an actual specific day to celebrate his birthday each year,’ Andrew Fagan said. ‘And, as he gets older, he likes saying his ‘real’ age and perhaps it gives him an excuse to act it.’

Fagan agreed, ‘I definitely wouldn’t change my birthday.’

 

March Minsley

Registering for a website may seem like no big deal to most people, but it proves a little more difficult for leap year babies like Minsley. The architecture major said some websites that require registration won’t allow her to state that she was born on Feb. 29.

Minsley, who celebrates her birthday on March 1 when it isn’t a leap year, said her family has always commemorated the special day in March instead of February.

‘My family’s logic is that I was born the day after February 28th, which is March 1st when it isn’t a leap year,’ she said.

Her family also has a quirky way of celebrating her birthday on leap years.

‘My birthday is always themed the age I’m actually turning,’ she said.

Minsley has fun plans for her birthday this year, continuing her family’s tradition with her friends. She and her friends plan to celebrate by visiting a local bounce house to play.

Her most memorable birthday was her third actual birthday, the year she turned 12 years old.

‘We had a backwards theme,’ she said. ‘Everyone wore their clothes backwards, and we had breakfast for dinner. It was fun.’

For Minsley, it’s just another perk of being a Leap Baby.

She said, ‘You can pretend you’re not really the age you are.’

amhider@syr.edu

Published on February 28, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Anna: amhider@syr.edu