Posted on Sun, Feb. 29, 2004
For leap year babies, today is extra special
4-YEAR-OLDS MARK FIRST BIRTHDAYS TODAY
By Kim Vo - Mercury News
Eileen Carey just knew she had to throw a party today. Her son Patrick is turning 4 and he could finally celebrate his
birthday -- on his birthday.
So she invited 50 people for sandwiches and salads, affixing a sticker to the invitations that announces, ``A birthday
bash like this only happens every four years.''
Patrick, you see, is a leap year baby, like about 4 million others in the world, 200,000 of them Americans. He is one
of those rare people who were born Feb. 29, and see their true birthday only once every four years.
Since his birthday falls on a weekend, Carey said there was no excuse not to party at their new Los Altos home. Her
son thinks today is special for other reasons. ``It's a Buzz Lightyear party,'' said Patrick, referring to his favorite -- albeit
animated -- movie star.
Patrick can credit Julius Caesar for this calendar quirk. The Roman emperor adjusted the calendar to be in sync with
the earth's seasonal axis. There are 365.242199 days a year, creating an extra day every four years.
It's a noteworthy day, according to Leapzine, an online newsletter that celebrates all things associated with Feb. 29.
For instance, rapper Ja Rule (1976) and Pope Paul III (1468) were born on that date, and some leap year babies have
names that reflect their status, like J.N. Oleap Fernando and Cody James Leaping Edgerly, members of a special
leap day club.
One person is curious in two ways: Adolph Blaine Charles David Earl Frederick Gerald Hubert Irvin John Kenneth Lloyd
Martin Nero Oliver Paul Quincy Randolph Sherman Thomas Uncas Victor William Xerxes Yancy Zeus
Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenberdorft Sr., a German born in 1904, is not just a leap year baby but has a first name for every
letter of the alphabet. He shortened his name to Mr. Wolff Plus 585 Sr.
But some parents don't want to celebrate their children's birthdays just once in awhile. At Lucile Salter Packard Children's
Hospital, expectant parents are asking doctors to induce labor any day but today, said spokesman Robert Dicks.
That's the rub. Although Feb. 29 seems special for some -- Patrick's birth was announced at a school assembly and
people seem to know his birthday even though they forget his three siblings' -- others don't seem to appreciate the designation.
After all, huffs the editor of Leapzine (www.leapzine.com ), most newspapers (including the Mercury News) won't capitalize
leap day. And despite her campaign, most calendar companies refuse to print ``Leap Day'' even though they acknowledge
second-tier holidays like Groundhog Day.
Eva Sprintz is acknowledging ``Leap Day.'' Kind of. She is throwing a party for her daughter Zoe, complete with princess
dresses, make-up counters and bejeweled goblets. But then again, Sprintz throws theme-parties every year for Zoe, who
turns 4 today.
In the past, Zoe's birthday has been celebrated from noon Feb. 28 to noon March 1. Sprintz, who didn't plan to have a
leap year baby, says she will probably make a bigger fuss when Zoe is old enough to realize what it means.
``It makes the birthday even more special,'' said Sprintz of San Jose. ``I'm sure she'll join a club, or insist she's young:
I've only had three birthdays.''
Contact Kim Vo at kvo@mercurynews.com or (650) 688-7571.