Image of a person holding up three fingers while standing next to cake decorate by a number 3

The odds of being born on February 29 are 1 in 1,461. 

Shutterstock.com (balloons, cake); Courtesy of family (Caroline Conrad)

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I’m Turning Three!

Caroline Conrad was born 12 years ago, but this will be only the third year she’s had a real birthday. How is that possible? She was born on February 29, a date that comes around just once every four years!

Caroline was born in 2012. It was a leap year—when February has 29 days instead of its usual 28. 

Why the extra day? A year is based on the time Earth takes to orbit the sun. Most years on our calendar are 365 days long. But it actually takes 365 days plus another six hours for Earth to complete a trip around the sun. Every four years, those six hours add up to one extra day. It’s added to the end of February, the shortest month. 

Most years, Caroline and her family choose a random day in February or March for a small birthday celebration. But the sixth-grader from Connecticut makes bigger plans when a leap year comes along. This year, she plans to celebrate by going to a rodeo with her friends. 

“It’s rare to have a leap day birthday,” Caroline says. “We like to do something extra special when February 29 is actually on the calendar!” 

Do you know anyone who has a leap day birthday?

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