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United States Leap Day Marvels: Celebrating notable leaplings and the quirks of February 29!
Leap years have been with us since the 16th century, an invention of the Gregorian calendar, introduced to deal with a troublesome fraction in the solar year.
Bearing in mind it takes around 365.2422 days each year for the Earth to revolve around the sun, the extra snippet (around six hours a year) adds up over time.
Leap days regulate things -- without them we would fall out of sync with the seasons, causing havoc for farmers and their crops as well as school holidays.
On this extraordinary day, we celebrate the remarkable individuals who defy the calendar’s norms. Born on February 29, they are the elusive “Leaplings” – a select group whose birthdays occur only once every four years.
These leaplings get four times fewer birthdays, but it is also, as some like to claim, the key to eternal youth. With the chance of babies being born on a leap day at one in around 1,500, there are an estimated five million leaplings in the world today.
So, let’s take a look at a few notable leap day celebs: -
1. Morarji Desai
Born in Mumbai on February 29, 1896, Morarji Desai is the Former Indian Prime Minister and Finance Minister. Morarji is the first non-Congress Prime Minister of India. Morarji lived to be 99 years old and he only celebrated 24 birthdays in his lifetime.
2. Rukmini Devi Arundale
Born in Madurai on February 29, 1904, Rukmini Devi is a renowned Bharatanatyam dancer and the Founder of Kalakshetra. It is said that Rukmini Devi transformed Bharatanatyam from a sensual art form to one with a more holy and spiritual quality. She was the first female nominee for a Rajya Sabha member in Indian history.
3. Prakash Nanjappa
Born in Bangalore on 29 February 1976, Prakash is an Indian shooter who participates in the 50-meter pistol and 10-meter air pistol competitions. At the 2013 ISSF World Cup in Changwon, South Korea, he won a bronze medal and was the only Indian to win a medal. He won the silver and bronze medals in the same competition at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Incheon 2014 Asian Games. He won a gold medal in the Brisbane 2017 Commonwealth Championships.
4. Janvi Chheda
Born in Mumbai on 29 February 1984, Janvi is a television actor known for her role as the brave and intelligent Inspector Shreya in CID. Her first episode was aired on 30 June 2012.
5. Adam Sinclair
Born in Coimbatore on 29 February 1984, Adam is an Indian field hockey player. Adam participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens as a member of the Indian hockey squad. In May 2004, he debuted internationally at a Four-Nation Tournament held in Gifu, Japan.
6. Pedro Sánchez
Pedro is a politician from Spain who has served as the country's prime minister since June 2018. In addition, he was chosen President of the Socialist International in November 2022. He has served as Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) since June 2017, having previously held that position from 2014 to 2016.
7. Tony Robbins
Born on 29 February 1960, Tony is a speaker, coach, and author from America. His self-help books, such as Awaken the Giant Within and Unlimited Power, are well-known, as are his infomercials and seminars.
8. Jessie Usher
Born on 29 February 1992, Jessie is an actor from the United States. He is renowned for his roles as Reggie Franklin / A-Train in the television series ‘The Boys,’ Cam Calloway on ‘Survivor's Remorse,’ and Lyle on ‘Level Up. He has acted in films such as Smile (2022), Shaft (2019), Teenage (2014), When the Game Stands Tall (2014), and Independence Day: Resurgence (2016).
9. Ja Rule
Born on 29 February 1976, Ja Rule is a rapper from the United States. Ja Rule, who was born and raised in New York City, rose to prominence in the 2000s hip-hop scene by fusing pop sensibilities with gangster rap.
10. Superman
It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman. According to Super DC Calendar 1976, the alien from Krypton celebrates his birthday on 29 February. Superman shares his birthday with Billy Batson, also known as “Shazam.”
As we wrap up our glimpse into the lives of those born on February 29, it's evident that these individuals carry a distinctive charm in navigating the calendar's oddity. From adjusting birthday celebrations to embracing the rarity of their birthdate, their stories unveil a unique perspective on time.
