SeeCalifornia.com

Leap Day is a fun name for something that could easily have been called Correction Day or Synchronization Day.  By definition, “leap” means springing  free from, passing abruptly from one state or topic to another or  acting precipitately. In California, leaping may involve frolicking on a beach as one splashes his or her feet in  ocean waves. And on Leap Day 2012, lots of kids  and adults on spring break will do exactly that!

Leap Day is a great time to relax and enjoy that added bonus of an extra day. But lots of questions swirl around this special day that happens every four years. What if you are lucky enough to be born on Leap Day?

Chances of being born on this day are about 1 in 1,500. Every state in the U.S. has a plan for those born on February 29. Approx. 187,000 people in the US and 4 million people globally have been born on Leap Day. Your driver’s license will never list Feb. 29 as your birthday, however. It will say either February 28 or March 1. Most states pick March 1st as the official birthday for people born on Leap Day.

Leap year occurs every four years and is based on the Gregorian calendar which requires synchronization with the solar year. The earth completes its orbit around the sun in approx. 365¼ days, though our calendar is set for 365 days…not a quarter of a day extra. Slightly less than 365¼ day by 11 minutes, additional tweaking requires that the leap year be omitted three times every 400 years.