Why Embracing a Leap Day Birthday is a Blessing, Not a Curse

Lev Golinkin, the author of the memoir "A Backpack, a Bear, and Eight Crates of Vodka," writes about refugee and immigrant identity, as well as Ukraine, Russia, and the far right. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.

Deciding on a child's date of birth is typically not a concern for parents after the baby is born. However, it was a choice my mom had to make when I was born at 10-something p.m. on leap day.

Lev Golinkin

Lev Golinkin

February 29 is a rare occurrence in the calendar, only appearing once every four years. In all other years, the transition goes directly from February 28 to March 1. In the Soviet Union, a communist dictatorship, my mother was advised by hospital staff to change my birthdate to March 1. The doctors believed it would be easier for everyone if my birthdate was not on the abnormal February 29.

Communists aren't the only ones cautious about leap day birthdays. The likelihood of being born on February 29 is approximately 1 out of 1,461. However, despite these slim odds, there are significantly fewer babies born on February 29 than statistics would suggest. This is due to parents who prefer to avoid what they perceive as an undesirable and unusual birthday by scheduling induced labor or C-sections for February 28 or March 1 instead.

While I don't want to pass harsh judgment, the idea that a child couldn't handle having a rare birthday reflects poorly on the parents' confidence in their child. Nevertheless, the desire to avoid a leap day birth is so strong that even today, there are anecdotes of doctors being willing to manipulate births that occur in the first or last few minutes of February 29 by recording them as February 28 or March 1.

Svetlana Golinkin, newborn Lev Golinkin, and maternity ward staff, Kharkov (now called Kharkiv), USSR, March 2, 1980.

Svetlana Golinkin, newborn Lev Golinkin, and maternity ward staff, Kharkov (now called Kharkiv), USSR, March 2, 1980.

The main concern for individuals born on February 29 revolves around gifts, or the possibility of not receiving any. Many people have asked me with genuine concern, "Do you only receive gifts once every four years?"

"The Federal Birthday Gift Commission enforces the rule strictly," I confirm. "They seize all gifts received on non-leap years. But when February 29 finally arrives, I qualify for something substantial, such as a car."

leap day

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Another common question that arises is how to celebrate birthdays on February 28 or March 1 in non-leap years. My friend Kyle has a humorous approach, attempting to mark the nonexistent moment between February 28 and March 1 by wishing me a "HappyFakeBirthday!" right at midnight on the 28th.

I take a different approach when it comes to celebrating my birthday. Instead of just choosing one day, I claim both February 28 and March 1 as my special days. My preference is for February 28 since it is my birth month, but having the option of March 1 is also nice. If bad weather ruins the celebration on the 28th, I simply move it to March 1. And if I feel that the festivities on February 28 were lacking, I let my friends and family know that it was just a practice run and that my real birthday is the following day.

The only time I had to celebrate my birthday on March 1 was when I turned 21 and it wasn't a leap year. This unique situation sparked a brief philosophical conversation with a bouncer outside a bar in Boston.

It all boiled down to perspective. On February 28, as my birthday falls on the day before March 1, I believed I was entitled to a drink. However, the bouncer had a different opinion. In his view, since my birthday technically fell after February 28, he refused to let me in until the next day.

I tried to change his mindset by pointing out that his approach was defeatist. I urged him to focus on the concept of before rather than after, to adopt a proactive attitude, and to look ahead instead of dwelling on the past. I emphasized the transformative power of a simple shift in perspective and invited him to join me on this journey.

The bouncer said that if I wasted any more of his time, I would spend both February 28 and March 1 in the emergency room.

Maternity ward staff, newborn Lev Golinkin and Samuel Golinkin, Kharkov (now called Kharkiv), USSR, March 2, 1980.

Maternity ward staff, newborn Lev Golinkin and Samuel Golinkin, Kharkov (now called Kharkiv), USSR, March 2, 1980.

Courtesy Lev Golinkin

Bullies target the vulnerable, whether in school or on the calendar. It may seem unbelievable, but February 29 can be even rarer than usual: Once in a blue moon, the calendar authorities decide to skip a whole leap year cycle, resulting in 8 consecutive years without a February 29.

There are specific rules and timekeeping explanations for this occurrence, but I won't delve into them. I refuse to entertain the absurd concept of a leap day for leap day. February 29 has already done its job of shortening the calendar; it's time for another day to carry the burden. Perhaps St. Patrick's Day could step in - considering the peculiar tradition he supposedly bestowed upon February 29 that continues to this day.

St. Bridget once questioned St. Patrick about whether women can propose to men, according to Irish legend. St. Patrick was hesitant about the idea but did not completely reject it. After some discussion, he decided that women can propose to men, but only on leap days, which occur once every four years. In countries where February 29 is still associated with this tradition, it is known as Bachelor's Day, a time when shy single men can be approached by women.

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I can understand why mothers and medical professionals take extreme measures to avoid February 29, given the concerns about reduced birthday gifts, the possibility of leap day being skipped for eight years, and warnings for single men to stay indoors. However, I believe leap day is fascinating, special, and quirky, and I encourage expectant parents to embrace it. At the very least, you can proudly share that your child graduated high school at four and a half.

Despite pressure from the Soviet maternity ward to change my birth date and avoid causing issues for workers and peasants, my mom decided to stick to the original leap day birthday.

My mom refused, telling the hospital she’s keeping my birthday as is. “I think he’ll like it,” she told the doctor. She was right.

Editor's P/S:

The article by Lev Golinkin offers a unique and insightful perspective on the significance of leap day birthdays. It highlights the hesitations and concerns surrounding such a rare occurrence, particularly among parents and medical professionals. The author's personal experience as a leap day baby provides a compelling narrative, showcasing the complexities and perspectives associated with this unusual birthday.

Golinkin's reflections on the societal attitudes towards leap day birthdays are particularly poignant. The desire to avoid what is perceived as an undesirable or unusual birthday reveals a lack of confidence in children's ability to embrace their individuality. However, the author argues that leap day birthdays should be celebrated for their uniqueness and quirkiness, encouraging parents to embrace the rarity and specialness of such a birthdate.