Shout Out to the Leapers


Happy Leap Year!

Laura Nicolescu, Co-Editor-In-Chief

2016 holds a very special event that only happens every four years. No, not the presidential elections – although those are obviously just as worthy of our undivided attention- but a leap year.

Every four years the people born on Feb. 29 get to celebrate their birthday on the exact date they opened their eyes in this world, something the majority of us take for granted. One in 1,461 people are born on Leap Day, about 187,000 in the United States and 4 million around the world. They are referred to as “leaplings,” or “leapers”. In non-leap years, many leaplings choose to celebrate their birthday on either Feb. 28 or March 1, while purists stick to Feb. 29 for the occasion.

Now why are those people so unfortunate as to get to blow the candles on their birthday cakes only once every four years?

By definition, a Leap Year is one that contains an additional day in order to keep the calendar year in sync with the seasonal or astronomical year. Leap years are necessary to keep the planet aligned with Earth’s revolutions around the sun.

According to, the Ancient Egyptians were the first to discover the discrepancy between a strict man-made calendar and the shifting seasonal year. However it was the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century that established the leap year.

While the calendar assumes the Earth revolves around the sun every 365 days, it actually takes the Earth a bit longer – 365 days, five hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. If the calendar were not adjusted for the extra six hours by adding an extra day approximately every four years, the calendar would slowly shift and the seasons would no longer be aligned with the traditional months. Without Leap Days, the calendar would be off by 24 days within 100 years.

Other Leap Year facts

  • If you are born on a Leap Year, do you get your driver’s license on Feb. 28 or March 1? It is a question that is decided by each state. Most states, however, consider March 1 the official day.
  • When speaking of your Leap-age, it is incorrect to say you are two “years” old when you are really eight “years” old. You are two LEAP Years old. Meaning no, those born on Leap Day have not discovered the Fountain of Youth and still age just like the rest of us.
  • The Summer Olympic Games are always held in a Leap Year.
  • According to astrologers, those born under the sign of Pisces on Feb. 29 have unusual talents and personalities reflecting their special status.

So, what are you going to do with these extra 24 hours, Titans? It’s extra time to work on your college essays, perhaps. Study for the upcoming tests. Spend quality time with your friends and family. Perform a random act of kindness.

Life is short. Each day is a blessing. When blessed with an extra one, make the most of it. Whatever you do, spend your extra time wisely- it only comes once every four years.