Babies born today will have to wait another four years before they have a real birthday. However, most will choose to celebrate their birthday on February 28th or March 1st.
Four years ago, 190 babies were born on February 29th in New Zealand. Nearly 3,000 people in New Zealand celebrated their birthday today. One woman in Hamilton, who has lived for 84 years, celebrated her 21st real birthday. A 21st birthday in New Zealand is a special birthday because, many years ago, a young person became a legal adult on that day. These days, young people are adults at 18. This is the age when they can vote, drink alcohol and get married without permission from their parents.
The chances of being born on 29th February are one in 1461.
One tradition says that it is a chance for a woman to propose to a man instead of waiting for the man to propose to her on 29th February.
Vocabulary
propose – ask someone to marry him or her
Questions
• What is leap year called in your language?
• Do you know why we have a leap year?
• When is a person a legal adult in your country?