GEORGE NEWS - Leap day on Thursday 29 February was a day that only comes around every four years - but it was special in another way for new parents in George, where 19 leaplings were born.
Nine boys and six girls were born in the George Hospital, while a set of twin boys, as well as two more boys, were born in Mediclinic George.
According to an article in the New York Times, the chances of being born on 29 February are one in 1 461 and an estimated five million people are born worldwide on this day.
The calendar accounts for Earth’s imperfect rotation by adding an extra day in February every four years.
It is a science developed over millenniums, dating back to the ancient Egyptians.
Why do we have leap years?
The most common explanation is to keep the calendar in step with the seasons.
In science class you might have learned that it takes the Earth 365 days to orbit the sun, but it actually takes about 365,25 days.
Adding an extra day once every four years keeps it balanced.
Fun facts
• Five million people in the world are leap day babies
• Leap day babies are called leapers or leaplings
• There is a one in 1,461 chance of being a leap day baby
• Some famous people, like rapper Ja Rule and singer Dinah Shore, were born on 29 February
• Every year divisible by four is a leap year, but every year divisible by 100 is not a leap year - unless the year is also divisible by 400, then it is still a leap year.
• There will be eight years between leap years 2096 and 2104
• Women often choose this day to propose marriage to men
• Getting married in a leap year is considered bad luck in Greece, so one in five engaged couples try to avoid it.
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