March 29, 2024

An ‘actual’ birthday

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As their actual birthdays approach tomorrow, two “leaplings” share how they plan to celebrate the very rare occasion.

MaKenzi Vonk of Creston, who turns 28 this year, would typically celebrate her birthday today, but for the first time in four years, will celebrate tomorrow on her actual birthday – Feb. 29, on which she will celebrate her seventh leap year, as well.

While some folks born on leap year simply celebrate their birthday the day after Feb. 28, not Vonk.

“Because I’m a February baby,” said Vonk. “I don’t like to celebrate it in March.”

Vonk said she believes being born on Leap Day is special and piques the curiosity of others who ask similar questions as to how she celebrates, when, and how old she actually considers herself to be. While she doesn’t celebrate in any out of the ordinary way, she recalled turning 21, when she couldn’t have her first legal drink in a bar until after midnight, which pushed her celebration in to March.

Vonk said one thing she enjoys doing is scouting out others born on Leap Day.

“Something I kind of like to do when it comes around is I like to watch the birth announcements to see if anybody has a baby and send them a little congratulations,” said Vonk.

Chelcee Cheers, who turns 32 tomorrow, said she celebrates her birthday on the weekend and isn’t dedicated to a particular day, whether it’s Feb. 28, 29 or March 1.

“Legally, I know it has to be after the 28th, on the first ... but usually I get some birthday texts right around midnight on the 28th,” said Cheers.

Cheers said she considers it special to be born on Leap Year, which is made fun by her friends and family.

“People have thrown me child’s birthdays before – child themed birthdays – so I had a Cinderella birthday one year, and ... people will give me little kid birthday card for whatever age appropriate time frame or year,” Cheers said.

Cheers said Vonk is the only person she knows personally but is part of the Honor Society of Leap Year Babies Facebook group, where other leaplings are discussing their birthday plans. This year, Cheers is celebrating her eighth leap year birthday in Las Vegas with friends.

In the Leap Year Facebook group, Cheers said a few members will be turning 21 leap years, which they will be celebrating at 84 years old.

“At 84 years old, they are having their 21st birthday, which is kind of funny,” said Cheers. “Oh man. I have to do Vegas on my eighth birthday because my 84-year-old body isn’t going to put up with a 21st birthday in Vegas.”

Cheers said some people have superstitions about being born that day.

“When they gave my mom her due date, it was Feb. 29 and I remember hearing the stories of my great aunt saying, “Oh gosh, don’t have a baby on leap year. Don’t have her on that day,” said Cheers. “Well, I came right on time.”

The odds of being born on Leap Day are one in 1,461.

“People definitely don’t get how it works. They know that it’s special, but they don’t really know why or how,” Cheers said.

Leap year does serve a purpose as it helps keep our seasons on track. According to Planetary Scientist James O’Donoghue, without leap day, the Earth would be 20 days out of sync with the seasons by 2100, and by 2400, autumn equinox would occur on New Year’s Eve. So, to keep the calendar on track, an extra day is tacked onto the end of February every four years to account for the Earth’s spinning around the sun five hours, 48 minutes, and 45 seconds longer than 365 days.

The discrepancy was first noticed in 46 B.C. by Julius Caesar, who noticed the calendar had fallen behind 90 days, and while he tried to correct the difference by adding days here and there for a year, adding a leap day every four years, Pope Gregory XIII introduced an extra day to make up the difference with leap years of centuries divisible by four skipped.

Either way, Cheers said it’s been a nice conversation starter.