What is so special in February 29th?
Only about 5 million people worldwide celebrate their birthday on February 29th, making it the rarest birthday of all - with a 1 in 1,461 chance of being born on this day. Because February 29th does not exist in non-leap years, leaplings choose when to celebrate in those years. Some choose February 28th to stay true to their birth month, while others celebrate on March 1st.
The extra day in February, also known as Leap Day, is added every four years to keep our calendar year synchronized with the Earth's revolution around the Sun, which takes roughly 365.25 days. The concept of leap years has been around for millennia, dating back to the ancient Egyptians and Romans. However, having a February 29th birthday remains unique even today.
Some famous people born on February 29th:
- Ja Rule (1976): American rapper and songwriter
- Tony Robbins (1960): American life coach, motivational speaker, author, and philanthropist
- Dinah Shore (1917): American singer, actress, and television personality
- Gioacchino Rossini (1792): Italian composer, best known for his operas "The Barber of Seville" and "William Tell"
- Pope Paul III (1468): Pope from 1534 to 1549, known for convening the Council of Trent, a pivotal moment in the Catholic Counter-Reformation
- Joss Ackland (1928): English actor known for his roles in films like "Lethal Weapon" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy
- Dennis Farina (1944): American actor known for his roles in films like "Get Shorty" and "Saving Private Ryan"
- Michel Morgan (1920): French actress, known for her role in the film "Port of Shadows"
- Al Rosen (1924): American baseball player, a three-time World Series champion with the Cleveland Indians
- Reri Grist (1935): American operatic soprano, known for her performances in works by Verdi and Puccini
- Henri Richard (1938): Canadian professional ice hockey player, a 11-time Stanley Cup champion with the Montreal Canadiens
- Alex Rocco (1936): American actor, known for his roles in films like "The Godfather" and "The Simpsons" (voice)
- Pedro Sánchez (1972): Prime Minister of Spain since 2018
- Rakhee Thakrar (1984): British actress, known for her roles in shows like "Sex Education" and "Four Weddings and a Funeral"
- James Garfield (1831): The 20th President of the United States, assassinated just four months into his presidency
