29 February

A century year, that is, a year which ends in two zeroes 1800, 1900, 2000, etc., is not a leap year unless it is also evenly divisible by 400. This means that the year 2000 was a leap year and 2400 will also be one, but 1800 and 1900 were not leap years, and the years 2100, 2200, and 2300 will not be leap years either.

Those who are born on this day usually celebrate their birthdays on February 28 during non-leap years. In the comic operetta The Pirates of Penzance, Frederic, born on February 29, was apprenticed to a band of pirates until his 21st birthday, in theory until he is 84 years old.

This day may be colloquially termed a leap day, though in the Roman calendar it was February 24 in a leap year which was added, giving the name of "bissextile" day or extra sixth day in the lead up to the 'Calends' of March. In the European Union, February 29 only officially became the leap day in 2000.

There is a tradition that women may make a proposal of marriage to men only on February 29; this is a tightening of an older tradition that such proposals may only occur on leap years. The man may of course refuse but, by tradition, he should soften the blow by providing a kiss and a silk gown. In Al Capp's comic strip Li'l Abner, this was called "Sadie Hawkins Day", though the tradition is much older.

Events

• 1704 - Native Americans attack and destroy Deerfield, Massachusetts
• 1720 - Queen Ulrike Eleonora of Sweden resigns
• 1940 - For her role as Mammy in "Gone with the Wind," Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award (Best Supporting Actress).
• 1944 - World War II: The Admiralty Islands are invaded in the American General Douglas MacArthur-led Operation Brewer.
• 1964 - In Sydney, Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser sets a new world record in the 100-meter freestyle swimming competition (58.9 seconds).
• 1988 - The soap opera Day by Day premieres on NBC.

Births

• 1736 - Ann Lee, founder of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing ("Shakers"), (d. 1784)
• 1792 - Gioacchino Rossini, composer, (d. 1868)
• 1840 - John Philip Holland, developer of the first submarine, (d. 1914)
• 1860 - Herman Hollerith, statistician, (d. 1929)
• 1896 - Morarji Desai, politician, (d. 1995)
• 1904 - Jimmy Dorsey, bandleader, (d. 1957)
• 1908 - Balthus, painter, (d. 2001)
• 1908 - Dee Brown, writer, historian, (d. 2002)
• 1916 - Dinah Shore, singer, (d. 1994)
• 1920 - Howard Nemerov, American, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, (d. 1991)
• 1924 - Al Rosen, baseball player
• 1936 - Henri Richard, ice hockey player
• 1960 - Tony Robbins, motivational speaker
• 1972 - Antonio Sabato Jr., actor
• 1976 - Ja Rule, rapper/actor

Deaths

• 468 - Pope Hilarius
• 1940 - Edward Frederick Benson, American writer, (b. 1867)
• 1992 - Ruth Pitter, English poet, (b. 1897)

Holidays and observances

• Bahá'í Faith - Day 4 of Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days) (in leap years only) - days in the Bahá'í calendar devoted to service and gift giving.

February 28 - March 1 - January 29 - March 29 -- listing of all days

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Referenced By