Happy LEAP YEAR Birthday To…

This year is a leap year.  A what?  Oh, you mean we live through the day of February 29^th?  Big deal.  Well, actually it is.  A leap year occurs every 4 years and usually goes unnoticed.  For many, it’s just another day.  We wake up, shower, get dressed and go to class.  However for those who were born on February 29^th, it’s a celebration of their true birth-dates!  They certainly notice when it is a leap year.  With the help of Nicole Radzilowicz, a sophomore leap year birthday girl, HC BC gives all of you a little insight of what it means to be a leap year baby…
 
Why do Leap Years occur?
It takes 365 and 1/4 days for the earth to revolve around the sun.  One day is tacked onto our year every four years so that our calendar stays consistent.  This extra day was put in the month of February because it was our shortest month (usually 28 days).  If we didn’t have a leap year, our seasons would eventually reverse and we would be celebrating a true Christmas in July in about 730 years.  I would say that February 29^th is pretty important when you look at it this way…

 
When do you celebrate your birthday if the day doesn’t exist?
Radzilowicz explained that since she was a little girl, she celebrated her birthday on March 1^st, however she said, “I don’t ever consider my birthday to actually be in March.”  She looks at her birthday as the day after February 28^th, whatever that may be for the given year.
 
If you are born on February 29^th, is your birthday a bigger celebration when February 29^th actually occurs?
“On leap years my parents like to spoil me, we usually have a big party,” Radzilowicz explains.  When going back and reminiscing of her childhood birthdays and birthday parties, the leap years stuck out: “I had my first party with my friends for my 8th birthday.  Then for my 12th birthday, my parents rented out a venue and threw a big party for me.”
 
Her favorite leap year birthday was when she turned 16 years old.  “We were able to have it on February 29th because that was actually a Friday,” said Radzilowicz.  “My parents outdid themselves completely, I had a ‘Happy 16th Birthday’ cake and a ‘Happy 4th Birthday’ cake.  I also got quite a mixture of birthday cards, a lot of sweet 16 ones as well as 4th birthday ones.  My friends also thought it was fun to emphasis my 4th birthday with happy 4th birthday pins, and I got quite a few presents geared towards younger children.  My favorite was this big purple and pink stuffed animal that made noises, and the tag said like ‘for ages 3 and up’ or ‘4 and up’or something to that extent.”
 
This year, turning 20, Nicole plans on celebrating her birthday with a few friends and is looking forward to having a belated celebration with her parents over Spring Break.  She will be turning 5 in leap years which she joked gives her an excuse to act a little more childish.  Naturally, like many Leap Year babies, Radzilowicz has a special connection with the day.
 
What should you do on February 29^th if it’s not your birthday?
In actuality, it is just another day. However, wish your friends who were born on this special day a happy birthday!  Also, embrace the extra day because it only comes once every 4 years!  Do something fun and celebrate 2012 as a Leap Year!