Today is a special day. If you're born on 29th February, you'll be able to celebrate your birthday once in every four years. And you're called a "leapling" - hmm, isn't that interesting that the world has coigned a special name for you? For others, guess there's no reason for envy, simply because this compensates the three years void of proper birthday celebration.
It's a leap year, and it's a very special year indeed. You may or may not realize the whole legal significance of the leap year phenomenon. Consider this - when will be the exact date for leapling teenagers to : obtain driving license? become registered voters? legally purchase and consume alcohol? watch 18SG/SX- rated movies? It's interesting to note that in Taiwan, a leapling's birthday falls on the 28th February every common year. In different parts of the world, the legal age in a non-leap year can fall either on 28th February or 1st March.
Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia for us to share on this special day :
"There are many instances in children's literature where a person's claim to be only a quarter of their actual age turns out to be based on counting their leap-year birthdays. A similar device is used in the plot of Gilbert and Sullivan's 1879 comic opera The Pirates of Penzance: As a child, Frederic was apprenticed to a band of pirates until the age of 21. Now, having passed his 21st year, he leaves the pirate band and falls in love. However, it turns out that the pirate indenture says that his apprenticeship does not end until his 21st birthday, and since he was born on February 29, that day will not arrive until he is in his eighties, and so he must leave his fiancée and return to the pirates. Of course, it all turns out happily in the end."
So, what's special on your calendar today? I should consider myself lucky because I can record very interesting events today - on this special leap day.
1. In my public speaking class, my students did a very good job in their public speaking practice. Tasha, Mun and Zahra showed the class what public speaking is all about. What about Fareez? Yes, he's in class today:) and he gave a very entertaining speech. The crowd likes him so much. Vee, Qila, Ifna and Afiq also did a good job. I should thank Wani for her fantastic idea of crowning all the speakers as Miss Congeniality, Miss Cherry Blossom, Mr Transformee!?! , and lots more.
2. I received an email from Asaihl Conference organizer in Thailand announcing that my abstract has been accepted for conference paper presentation. I shall talk about the "blogosphere". Guess this is the in thing nowadays and a miraculous way to catch up with teen-tech. Let's pray that the university approves my application to present this paper.
3. At five, we had our group decision making recording for my phd research. This time around, my ex-students from last semester's ITCB debated on an ethical dilemma. Pushpa mentioned about the leap day, and leap year, and I guess that kind of reminded me about this special day.
4. We are celebrating "Karnival Kelompok" at UNITEN this weekend. It's a good gathering of dynamic and enthusiastic undergraduates. Projects like this are empowering and educating in every way. I met Azwan, Zul and friends selling burger, and of course, Fareez - again - at the karaoke canopy. He sang "Bernafas Dalam Lumpur". Well, I saw many other students there, particularly some who didn't turn up for my class this morning and looking very healthy and active tonite - gotcha...Meon? Was it you? Ab - break a leg and win the hamper, yah!
5. My beloved husband reminded me about the leap day and that I should seize this opportunity to record everything nice and wonderful on my blog. This will at least trigger my readers to reflect on this special day. Perhaps you would like to share with us what special things happened today in history ;)
Guess that's about all. Happy leap birthday to all leaplings, and see you all tomorrow. It will be March 1st and we shall meet in a new monthly archive.
Take care everybody.
It's a leap year, and it's a very special year indeed. You may or may not realize the whole legal significance of the leap year phenomenon. Consider this - when will be the exact date for leapling teenagers to : obtain driving license? become registered voters? legally purchase and consume alcohol? watch 18SG/SX- rated movies? It's interesting to note that in Taiwan, a leapling's birthday falls on the 28th February every common year. In different parts of the world, the legal age in a non-leap year can fall either on 28th February or 1st March.
Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia for us to share on this special day :
"There are many instances in children's literature where a person's claim to be only a quarter of their actual age turns out to be based on counting their leap-year birthdays. A similar device is used in the plot of Gilbert and Sullivan's 1879 comic opera The Pirates of Penzance: As a child, Frederic was apprenticed to a band of pirates until the age of 21. Now, having passed his 21st year, he leaves the pirate band and falls in love. However, it turns out that the pirate indenture says that his apprenticeship does not end until his 21st birthday, and since he was born on February 29, that day will not arrive until he is in his eighties, and so he must leave his fiancée and return to the pirates. Of course, it all turns out happily in the end."
So, what's special on your calendar today? I should consider myself lucky because I can record very interesting events today - on this special leap day.
1. In my public speaking class, my students did a very good job in their public speaking practice. Tasha, Mun and Zahra showed the class what public speaking is all about. What about Fareez? Yes, he's in class today:) and he gave a very entertaining speech. The crowd likes him so much. Vee, Qila, Ifna and Afiq also did a good job. I should thank Wani for her fantastic idea of crowning all the speakers as Miss Congeniality, Miss Cherry Blossom, Mr Transformee!?! , and lots more.
2. I received an email from Asaihl Conference organizer in Thailand announcing that my abstract has been accepted for conference paper presentation. I shall talk about the "blogosphere". Guess this is the in thing nowadays and a miraculous way to catch up with teen-tech. Let's pray that the university approves my application to present this paper.
3. At five, we had our group decision making recording for my phd research. This time around, my ex-students from last semester's ITCB debated on an ethical dilemma. Pushpa mentioned about the leap day, and leap year, and I guess that kind of reminded me about this special day.
4. We are celebrating "Karnival Kelompok" at UNITEN this weekend. It's a good gathering of dynamic and enthusiastic undergraduates. Projects like this are empowering and educating in every way. I met Azwan, Zul and friends selling burger, and of course, Fareez - again - at the karaoke canopy. He sang "Bernafas Dalam Lumpur". Well, I saw many other students there, particularly some who didn't turn up for my class this morning and looking very healthy and active tonite - gotcha...Meon? Was it you? Ab - break a leg and win the hamper, yah!
5. My beloved husband reminded me about the leap day and that I should seize this opportunity to record everything nice and wonderful on my blog. This will at least trigger my readers to reflect on this special day. Perhaps you would like to share with us what special things happened today in history ;)
Guess that's about all. Happy leap birthday to all leaplings, and see you all tomorrow. It will be March 1st and we shall meet in a new monthly archive.
Take care everybody.
14 comments:
Hello Dear Puan Zuraidah :
I have learned many things about leap year by your useful post about it , but despite all these information what is the situation of those who are being born in this day ?
Is any relation between "Leap day" and "Karnival kelompok"?
TANKS SO MUCH
Naeim Pirmehtar
Hi Naeim,
Thanks for your reply. Guess leaplings go through different situations and experience in different parts of the world. Some are affected by unique cultural beliefs and practices; others may be affected by legal documents, or nothing at all..In your country, when do the Iranian leaplings celebrate their birthday during common years? Is it on 28th February or 1st March? Please share with us. Cheers.
29th February...
February 29 is a date that occurs only every four years...
A person who was born on February 29 may be called a "leapling"...
In non-leap years they may celebrate their birthday on 28 February or 1 March...weee~~~
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Hassuifah's momma..and all leaplings in diz world!!!
These are what i've learnt from this article today...
thanks god... i'm not one of the million out there who were born on 29 feb. i can't imagine how i'll celebrate my birthday once in four years. hehe...but actually those who were born on 29 feb need to feel lucky becoz not many of us have the chances like this. the more important is how u guys can adapt with the situation. hurmm..ok.
I don not thing so , because in Iran the calender which is being used in society is different and is somehow Islamic .
Thanks so much
Naeim Pirmehtar
Hyee.. I think this topic is very interesting to me.. Because i had a friend that was born on 29 feb.. Let me tell u a story.. Well, when everybody were busy celebrating birthday every year, he'll get kind of jealous about that.. Because he can only celebrate his birthday once in four years.. But, when his birtday is coming, his parent and friends celebrated it with huge celebration.. Nice.!! I can still remember his last birthday with me, on 29.2.2000.. His parent give him a car.. Wow.. It was amazing.. Hehe.. :-p About that carnival, i think this year is the best because i accidently join a contest.. It was 'Pertandingan Gubahan'.. I turned a watermelon into a ghost face like on halloween and i won 3rd prize.. Yeah!!! Lastly, i want to thank you for being a lovely lecturer... Happy alwayzz and hope for u to be in good health.. -afiq-
act,i also was born on february but not on 29 feb,,huhu..
thanx to GOD 2,,huhu..but same likes nas said,i also can't imagine if i was born on that date n how i'll celebrte my birthday once in 4 years..but 4 me,it also have special event 4 someone that were born on that date..i'm sure that their brthday celebration can be more happiness n special compare than others date even they only celebrate their brthday once in 4 years,,,so,4 anyone that was born on 29 february,dont's feeling sad because u juz can celebrate juz once in 4 years,,but 4 me they are very lucky person because were born on special date likes thats date..:)
thanks for the compliements, but i really know i messed it up bad... So, thanks!
I have a friend that celebrate his birthday on the 29th and his parents never fail to make a big party for him. Big one! they alaways tend to say they age 1 year in 4 years so u see they age probably 4 times slower than we do(in reality, we're the exact same cripple anyway).
I know that in Iran, we use another calender. That the new year starts on the 21st of March. They call this day Noruuz. I don think we actually have leap years in that calender, though, I'm not really sure.
But I enjoy 29 February, it just means that we have an extra day to njoy in a year!
... a very special day, definetely. More than a "usual" birthday, almost...
Hugs and see you soon!
Josephine
29 Feb.. wahh... a special date.. people who their besday in this date are very da lucky.. i'm not saying that i'm not lucky.. haha.. so, i have a cousin who's besday in dis date. guess what.. when we all tell her that, she gonna celeb her besday once in 4 year, she is not angry to us.. she just stare at us and then play with the others. why?? bcoz she still 7years old.. she doesn't know anything maybe.. so, 29 feb... see you soon..
haha.. Why Pn Zue didn't come for the finalist karaoke contest? u should see me how i sing "Taman Rashidah Utama" song by Wings...
Anyway, i beleive that joining this kind of contest could build up my confidence. It Helps a lot. if Pn Zue came for the finalist night she will know what i mean.. hehe ;p
I love Awi's songs, particularly Taman Rashidah Utama. Hmm..I can imagine you singing that song. I told your frenz that day that you'll have to sing a an english song in class next Friday...ok? Bring minus one...and please get Afiq and Qila to do the informative presentation on the singer's background and also, the message. I shall have chocolates for you, ok...cheers, and good job.
i tink i feel very sorry for people who was born on the leap year.. bcoz they celebrate their birthday once in every 4 years! but hey,tat makes u special rite? :)
me too afiq!! i accidently joined a contest called "pertandingan gubahan buah".. n i won da 2nd prize.. i beat afiq n faidhi!! n thanks to abey for being a good team mate.. :)
hye everyone!
it has been a long time since i last posted a comment on this blog right pn zue?i guess no chocolotes for this.haha.=p
well,i agreed with qila.pity to the people who celebrated their birthday on 29th february..you know,they celebrate their birthday once in every four years!but hey! they are special and lucky one,i would say.because people will surely remember their brithday that falls on a special day,and they'll throw a big party bash for them,to show how much their concern and to make sure he/she gets the bestest birthday ever!;D
and lastly, on 29th feb 08, there was a Masquerade Ball Uniten held at Marriot, Putrajaya. Wow! I was really, really into it and I've paid the rm80 to attend the event, but suddenly, something's urgent came up and I had to cancel my reservation for the dinner and there goes my rm80..well, this is a lesson for me.Whenever we gain something, we tend to loose something ;)
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