29 February: What makes the leap day 'extra' special | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
July 24, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025
29 February: What makes the leap day 'extra' special

Features

Rummana Ferdous Fagun
29 February, 2024, 01:00 pm
Last modified: 01 March, 2024, 02:10 pm

Related News

  • Greenpeace joins protests against gala Bezos wedding in Venice
  • Demi Lovato ties the knot with Jordan Lutes
  • 4 ex-members of Hasina's Cabinet seen together at London wedding of AL leader's son
  • One killed over loud music at wedding party in Natore
  • Singer Anuv Jain ties the knot with Hridi Narang

29 February: What makes the leap day 'extra' special

People often associate sentiments with this unique date as it only comes every four years

Rummana Ferdous Fagun
29 February, 2024, 01:00 pm
Last modified: 01 March, 2024, 02:10 pm
Photo: Collected
Photo: Collected

The year 2024 is a leap year.  It basically means we get a "bonus" day in February.

Though it may be just another day for some, there is much fascination surrounding it as it comes every four years only.

In some cultures, Leap Day is considered a lucky day for marriage proposals, weddings and other significant events.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

And so, it ensures the day doesn't go without celebrations.

The celebrity couple Mumtaheena Chowdhury Toya and Sayed Zaman Shawon got married on 29 February 2020 and will be celebrating their first wedding anniversary this year.

Shortly after their wedding, Toya had shared with TBS, "My family is very concerned about fixing dates. This is just a result of that concern. Our anniversary will be celebrated once every four years and everyone will be very hyped and excited about the anniversary because of this."

Mumtahina Toya and Sayeed Zaman Shawon got married on 29 February 2020. Photo: Noor-A-Alam
Mumtahina Toya and Sayeed Zaman Shawon got married on 29 February 2020. Photo: Noor-A-Alam

Some even consider it more practical to get married in a leap year as they would be able to plan something grand every four years rather than celebrating every year.

Though marriages are planned, birthdays are more often than not spontaneous. Those born on 29 February are called "leaplings" or "leap year babies."

For the majority of the time, leaplings choose to celebrate their birthdays on either 28 February or 1 March in non-leap years, not to miss out on the festivities associated with their special day.

However, when a leap year rolls around like this year, leaplings can finally celebrate their birthday on the actual date of 29 February.

One such example is renowned actor Mamunur Rashid, whose birthday is on 29 February. This year, a three-day long programme will be organised at Shilpakala Academy, Channel I and Bangladesh Women's Association to celebrate his birthday.

Mamunur Rashid in Duronto TV's 2020 Victory Day show 'Muktijuddher Kotha' answer questions about liberation war. Photo: Courtesy
Mamunur Rashid in Duronto TV's 2020 Victory Day show 'Muktijuddher Kotha' answer questions about liberation war. Photo: Courtesy

Mamunur Rashid said, "This is only an endeavour to spend some quality time with everyone. My prayers and love to all those who are organising the celebrations."

How leap year came to be

To understand why 29 February is important, we need to talk about time and calendars. Our calendar, called the Gregorian calendar, has 365 days in a year. But the Earth takes about 365.25 days to orbit the Sun.

So, every four years, we add an extra day to our calendar to catch up with the Earth's orbit. This extra day is 29 February which is often called leap day, and the year it happens in is called a leap year.

The idea of leap years dates back to ancient civilisations as the Egyptians, Romans, and others were found altering their calendars slightly to account for the extra time in Earth's orbit.

Ancient traditions and superstitions

With the ancient origin came ancient traditions like "Bachelor's Day," also known as Ladies' Privilege, which traces back to fifth-century Ireland, where legend says Saint Bridget petitioned Saint Patrick for women's right to propose.

Initially proposed as a once-in-seven-years opportunity, it later settled to every four years due to Bridget's persistence.

This tradition spread to Scotland, Finland, and parts of the UK by the 1800s, eventually reaching the United States. However, in the early 20th century, societal mockery tainted the celebration, portraying women who proposed as aggressive and domineering.

Despite this, Bachelor's Day remains a symbol of defiance against gender norms.

Leap year brings with it an array of superstitions and beliefs from diverse cultures.

In Greek tradition, marrying during a leap year, especially on leap day itself, is seen as a risky choice, potentially leading to divorce. This belief originates from ancient lore, where the leap year was deemed an unstable period for commitments.

In Scotland, it is believed that those who are born on leap day will live a life of suffering.

Leap year, in general, is also considered a doomed year for farmers, as the saying goes: "Leap year was never a good sheep year."

As for Germany, another saying goes, "Schaltjahr gleich Kaltjahr" which means leap year will be a cold year.

Top News

leap day / Wedding / birthday

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    Bangladesh, US set for crucial virtual meeting tomorrow over tariff issue
  • Milestone tragedy: CID confirms identities of 5 victims using DNA samples
    Milestone tragedy: CID confirms identities of 5 victims using DNA samples
  • BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. File Photo: Collected
    Ex-CJ Khairul responsible for political crises, deserves exemplary punishment: Fakhrul

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Collected
    Bangladeshi man jailed for life in UK for murdering wife in front of their baby
  • Ctg port authority halts contractor recruitment for Kamalapur ICD operations for two months
    Ctg port authority halts contractor recruitment for Kamalapur ICD operations for two months
  • Fire at Cosmo School in Mirpur on 23 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Fire breaks out at Cosmo School in Mirpur following generator explosion
  • Representational image. File Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS
    Debate arises as edu adviser says postponed HSC exams of 22 and 24 July will be held on same day
  • BB issues dress code for all, discourages short-sleeved or length dresses, leggings for female staff
    BB issues dress code for all, discourages short-sleeved or length dresses, leggings for female staff
  • Infographics: TBS
    Stay orders won’t shield defaulters: BB governor 

Related News

  • Greenpeace joins protests against gala Bezos wedding in Venice
  • Demi Lovato ties the knot with Jordan Lutes
  • 4 ex-members of Hasina's Cabinet seen together at London wedding of AL leader's son
  • One killed over loud music at wedding party in Natore
  • Singer Anuv Jain ties the knot with Hridi Narang

Features

Photo: Collected

24 July: More than 1400 arrested, 3 missing coordinators found

16h | Panorama
Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Aggrieved nation left with questions as citizens rally to help at burn institute

2d | Panorama
Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Mourning turns into outrage as Milestone students seek truth and justice

1d | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Uttara, Jatrabari, Savar and more: The killing fields that ran red with July martyrs’ blood

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

'Brahmanbaria has always been deprived because it fought against fascism'

'Brahmanbaria has always been deprived because it fought against fascism'

29m | TBS Today
All aboard crashed plane feared dead: Tass

All aboard crashed plane feared dead: Tass

59m | TBS News Updates
Remembering Shafin Ahmed

Remembering Shafin Ahmed

1h | Others
Gaza relief workers are being shot at

Gaza relief workers are being shot at

1h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net