Leap Day!
Marian Bassett was born on Leap Day in 1924. However, to look at the McDonough woman’s birth certificate and official identification, no one would ever know that was true.
Today, Bassett celebrates her 21st birthday. However, due to the direction of the doctor that delivered her 84 years ago, Feb. 29 could not be listed as her official date of birth. “I was born on Feb. 29, 1924,” Bassett said. “The doctor told my mother it was after midnight, but they had to pick either Feb. 28 or March 1 for my birthday, or I would only have one every four years,” Bassett explained. Her parents chose Feb. 28, and every year since then, Bassett has been celebrating her birthday a day early.
Although Bassett knew she was officially born on the 29th, she said she never really gave it much thought. She explained that while it has been an ongoing joke for one family member who calls every leap year to tell Marian her “official” age, she hasn’t otherwise given it much thought. This year, Marian will be celebrating on Feb. 29, but plans to keep the event pretty low key, spending the day with family and loved ones.
The first leap day was added to the calendar in 46 BC by Julius Caesar in order to make the calendar reflect the actual time it takes the earth to rotate around the sun, which is closer to 365 and a quarter days.
Leap year traditions quickly followed the holiday. A tradition that is said to have originated in Ireland during the fifth century gave women the right to propose to men once every four years on leap day. Legend credits St. Bridget for complaining to St. Patrick that women shouldn’t have to wait so long for a man to propose. According to legend, St. Patrick gave women the one day every four years to have their say.
A similar example was seen in England in later years. English law ignored Feb. 29, making it a day when traditions had no real status. Since the laws unfairly prevented women from proposing marriage, a law was passed in Scotland in 1288 not only allowing women to propose on leap day, but also making any man who declined a woman’s proposal pay a fine, in the way of a kiss, a silk dress or a pair of gloves.
Over the years, many historic events have taken place on leap day. On leap day in 1692, three women were accused of witch craft, and the Salem Witch Trials began. In 1940, Gone With the Wind won eight Academy Awards and Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award. McDaniel was given the best supporting actress award for her portrayal of Mammy, and in 1972 Hank Aaron became the highest paid baseball player at the time, when he signed a contract for $200,000.
Today, Bassett celebrates her 21st birthday. However, due to the direction of the doctor that delivered her 84 years ago, Feb. 29 could not be listed as her official date of birth. “I was born on Feb. 29, 1924,” Bassett said. “The doctor told my mother it was after midnight, but they had to pick either Feb. 28 or March 1 for my birthday, or I would only have one every four years,” Bassett explained. Her parents chose Feb. 28, and every year since then, Bassett has been celebrating her birthday a day early.
Although Bassett knew she was officially born on the 29th, she said she never really gave it much thought. She explained that while it has been an ongoing joke for one family member who calls every leap year to tell Marian her “official” age, she hasn’t otherwise given it much thought. This year, Marian will be celebrating on Feb. 29, but plans to keep the event pretty low key, spending the day with family and loved ones.
The first leap day was added to the calendar in 46 BC by Julius Caesar in order to make the calendar reflect the actual time it takes the earth to rotate around the sun, which is closer to 365 and a quarter days.
Leap year traditions quickly followed the holiday. A tradition that is said to have originated in Ireland during the fifth century gave women the right to propose to men once every four years on leap day. Legend credits St. Bridget for complaining to St. Patrick that women shouldn’t have to wait so long for a man to propose. According to legend, St. Patrick gave women the one day every four years to have their say.
A similar example was seen in England in later years. English law ignored Feb. 29, making it a day when traditions had no real status. Since the laws unfairly prevented women from proposing marriage, a law was passed in Scotland in 1288 not only allowing women to propose on leap day, but also making any man who declined a woman’s proposal pay a fine, in the way of a kiss, a silk dress or a pair of gloves.
Over the years, many historic events have taken place on leap day. On leap day in 1692, three women were accused of witch craft, and the Salem Witch Trials began. In 1940, Gone With the Wind won eight Academy Awards and Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award. McDaniel was given the best supporting actress award for her portrayal of Mammy, and in 1972 Hank Aaron became the highest paid baseball player at the time, when he signed a contract for $200,000.
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