Extra day keeps us in balance, harmony

It’s leap year, and whether or not the unusual astronomical calculations that create the extra day in February are causing it, weird heavenly things have been happening. Within about a week’s time, there was a sighting of something unusual that turned out to be a meteor, the U.S. Navy shot an old spy satellite out of the sky. Then there was a rather eerie-looking lunar eclipse.

Coincidence or not, these strange happenings have occurred in the days leading up to Feb. 29, also known as Leap Year Day, a day that is meant to bring balance and harmony to our calendar and our universe. The day was created following hundreds of years of study by ancient astrologists and mathematicians who finally determined that adding an extra day once every four years would keep the calendar in alignment with the earth’s motion around the sun.

Julius Caesar added this extra day to February because February was the last month of the year at the time – 45 B.C. The year in which an extra day is added is called a leap year all year long.

It doesn’t seem as though the promise of harmony brought by a leap year extends to those born on Leap Year Day – those who are only able to “officially” celebrate their birthday once every four years. But the fact is, most who are born on Feb. 29 call themselves “Leapers” or “Leapsters,” and actually enjoy being “special.”

The chances of being a Leap Year Day baby in 2008 are 1 in 1,461. With about 200,000 in the United States – that’s a pretty exclusive club. Astrologers agree these folks are extraordinary, saying those born under the sign of Pisces on Feb. 29 will have unusual talents and personalities reflecting their special status.

In the past, Leapsters rarely found each other, but the Internet has changed all that. Today Leapster Web sites allow those born on Feb. 29 to celebrate their “leapness” with blogs, poems, special songs and words of support. They share ideas on how to celebrate their birthdays, inform one another about Leap Year Day events and send in pictures of their Leapster tattoos. Parents can announce the birth of their new little Leapster with a birth announcement that features a frog delivering the baby instead of the traditional stork.

Gilbert and Sullivan wrote a comic opera about a Leaper back in the 1870s. The “Pirates of Penzance” is the story of a young man, Frederic, apprenticed to a group of pirates until his 21st birthday. Upon reaching that age he leaves, only to learn his Feb. 29 birthday means he is really only 5 years old – he will not reach 21 until he is in his 80s. Being a man of integrity, he turns from new love, Mabel, and returns to the pirates.

The play ends happily however, after Frederic and his pirate companions are forgiven their trespasses once it is learned they are disenfranchised noblemen. A movie of the play starring Kevin Kline is a favorite of Leapsters.

One concern Frederic, and all Leapsters, have is deciding upon which day to celebrate their birthday while waiting for Feb. 29 to roll around again. It seems the majority choose to celebrate on either Feb. 28 or March 1 in between leap years. Leapsters have even coined a new phrase, “strictly Februarian” denoting those who choose to celebrate their birth in February – the month they were born.

Recognizing that Leap Year Day was created to return balance and order to their world, a tradition began centuries ago that allowed women to propose marriage to fix an old and unjust custom that only let men propose matrimony. The tradition continues today around the world, sometimes extending to the entire leap year.

Marriage on Leap Year Day itself has a positive side for some. One Las Vegas minister urges couples to marry on Leap Year Day by reminding husbands what a good deal they are getting. “Just think about it – you’ll only forget your anniversary once every four years!” That’s actually not a bad reason to marry on Leap Year Day – and just think of all the money you’ll save, buying anniversary gifts only once every four years.

In asking about Leap Year Day around town, I discovered Pleasant Land Books and Espresso in Rathdrum is offering a Leap Year Day special. “Women who buy a man a drink get 25 percent off,” said owner Jan Conner. She is offering the special Friday and Saturday.

Let’s hope Feb. 29, and the recognition Conner and others give Leap Year Day, will help restore balance to the skies over the Pacific Northwest. Happy birthday, Leapers!