After waiting four long years, the leap year has finally returned, and Junior Sanya Mital and Sophomore Nash Russak finally have the opportunity to celebrate their actual birthday—Feb. 29. They are two out of the four million who share the same unique birthday.
“When I was younger, I would feel angry since my birthday only comes once every four years and would envy others who had a birthday every year,” Mital said. “However, I’ve come to realize that being born on leap day sets me apart from others and makes me unique.”
For leaplings, birthday parties are of huge significance because their birthdays only arrive every four years.
Each time a leap year comes around the corner, Mital’s parents arrange an enormous party, inviting all her close friends and relatives.
This year, Mital’s parents will be throwing a sweet 16 for her at a banquet hall in an Indian restaurant located in Diamond Bar.
“When it is a leap year, I usually celebrate with a big party rather than a small one with my close friends,” Mital said. “I remember last leap year, 2012, my parents threw me a huge surprise party and had invited around 60 people, mostly my family friends and relatives.”
For Russak, many characteristics and traits that he possesses set him apart from his friends, and he personally thinks being born on leap day is one of them.
Instead of mourning over the lack of attention he could have on annual birthdays, he is thankful that he is s part of a family of leaplings.
“It’s a special day to be born on, even though others often tease me about how I am technically younger,” Russak said. “But it isn’t something shameful or embarrassing, instead I feel lucky about it because I stand out from everyone else.”
Russak prefers to stay simple by celebrating amongst his parents and closest relatives.
“It’s a tradition for my family members to make my favorite meals such as barbeque ribs and they usually buy a cake the size of a student’s table,” Russak said. “We spend most of the day hanging out, talking and eating together.”
On Russak’s first leap year birthday, he recalls his mother and his preschool teacher getting together to throw him a surprise party. For his second birthday, he invited all his fellow classmates to his house instead of celebrating at school. His parents rented a jumper for him and his friends, and they also made pastries for them.
Now that Mital and Russak’s fourth birthdays are here, they are happy to be one year closer to their friends’ ages.