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February
2004
The
Lowdown On Sinazongwe:
The
Star Of Sinazongwe
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Forever
Young
It’s
leapt up on us again – a leap year. Yes, I can hear you
saying ‘so?’ and quite rightly, for the vast majority of
the population. But for a small minority, very small, it is
quite an important year for they get to celebrate a proper
birthday and they get to be a year older.
The
chances of being born on a Leap Years Day (29 February) are
about 1 in 1461. Or lets put it another way – 0.0684 percent
of the world’s population are Leapers
(oops, I nearly typed lepers) or a total of about four million
people worldwide.
The
question that is directed to most Leapers, with pity in
the questioners eyes, is ‘when do you celebrate your
birthday on non-leap years?’ Some people are adamant that
since they were born on the last day of February, that is when
they will celebrate their birthday. Other celebrate 365 days
after their last birthday, on 1st March. And then,
of course, there are the party animals who celebrate on both
days.
A
day like this would not be complete without its own legend.
In 1288, in Scotland, it was made legal for women to propose
marriage to men in a Leap Year only. And if he declined, he
was obliged to provide here with a silk dress or a pair of
gloves. This legend spread throughout the world and soon there
were Leap Year Balls being held specially for woman to make
these proposals or even just to ask men out or to dance.
Nowadays, of course, this is not such a big deal but way back
then, I guess it was quite important as it was considered
improper or forward for a woman to do any of these things,
such that in the 1800s and early 1900s, there were even
postcards depicting women proposing to men.
From
1920 until sometime in the 60s, there was an Order Of
29’ers. This was operated by the Kansas based newspaper,
Headlight-Sun and they sent out certificates to people born on
February 29th. Their motto was "semel quatuor
annis," and the certificates had a picture of a baby in
the centre with a stork and Father Time on the other side.
This newspaper is now called the Morning Sun and they no
longer operate the Order of 29'ers. But by the time they shut
their doors, two thousand members had signed up.
Today,
there appears to be a movement to have 29th
February specially marked on calendars and in diaries. Some
even suggest that it should be made a public holiday although
I do think this is going a little too far.
On
the border between Mexico and Texas, is a small town called
Anthony. Each Leap Year since 1988, they have held a Leap Year
Festival and now call themselves The Leap Capital of the
World. Membership is $ 20 per year; leap year that is.
This
year, Lusaka will be holding its own Leap Year Party for those
born on 29th February and its being organised by
two Leapers. But in true lackadaisical Leaper
fashion, they are now only leaping about doing the planning
and getting things organised so full information was not
available at the time of going to press. However, if you were born
on 29th February (and proof is required) please contact The
Lowdown on 01 235-333 or contact
us by email and we will give you all the
necessary information.
And
to those who can’t make it to the party, we hope you have a
leaptacular birthday.
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