As of: February 20, 2024, 12:12 p.m
Comments
Press
Split
The date Thursday, February 29, 2024 is written on a calendar page. © Bernd Weißbrod/dpa
Anyone born on February 29th can celebrate their birthday on their actual birthday again this year.
In addition, dozens of children are likely to see the light of day again in MV.
Schwerin - Statistically speaking, dozens of babies are likely to be born on a rare day in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania this year.
Because 2024 is a leap year, with February 29th there will be 366 days instead of 365.
In the past, around 30 to 40 people were born on this day in the northeast, the statistical office said.
However, it is not known how many people currently live in MV who have their birthday on this day.
Most recently, 38 children were born on the additional day in 2020, whose mother was registered as their place of residence in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
In 2016 there were 28 and in 2012 35. In 2008 and 2004, 29 and 40 newborns were registered in 2000.
If it is not a leap year, leap day children can celebrate their birthday on both February 28th and March 1st.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, they officially only become one year older on March 1st in years without February 29th.
This is what the Civil Code provides.
The reason for the additional day is astronomical: the Earth does not need exactly 365 days to orbit the sun, but rather: 365 days, five hours and almost 49 minutes.
The leap day is usually inserted every four years to compensate for the deviation between the astronomical year - the solar year - and the calendar year.
dpa