As of: February 29, 2024, 6:30 a.m
By: Jannis Gogolin, Andreas Steppan
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Angelika Ahr (68) from Geretsried is expecting a very special birthday present.
The expected birth date of her first grandchild is February 29th.
© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss
Born on February 29th: What is it like when you can only celebrate your birthday every four years?
We asked three “leap year children”.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen – Only having a birthday every four years: This fate is shared by around 55,000 people in Germany.
They were born on February 29th, which only occurs in leap years.
Some people from the district, who can exceptionally celebrate their special day on the correct date this Thursday, take their special feature with humor.
A woman from Geretsried even hopes that she will soon no longer be the only one in her family who has the unusual date of birth on her ID.
The midwife wanted to register March 1st as her birthday
68 years ago, on February 29, 1958, Angelika Ahr saw the light of day.
And yet her birth certificate had almost a different date.
“When I was born, the midwife suggested to my parents that my birthday should be March 1st,” says the Geretsried native.
“I think she wanted to spare me the trouble of having leap day children.
But my parents refused.
And I’m happy about it.”
Because she sees no disadvantages in having her birthday on February 29th.
“It’s always been normal for me,” she says.
Acquaintances and work colleagues, on the other hand, sometimes see it differently.
“They often wished me a happy birthday on February 28th,” reports Angelika Ahr.
“But I always rejected the congratulations with a 'no'.” Her birthday is February 29th: “Not a day before, not a day after.”
In three out of four years there is only modest celebration
In three out of four years the celebration is correspondingly modest.
“A little coffee, cake and a visit to a restaurant.” In the past, she only celebrated bigger on leap years, says the Geretsried native.
For example, she flew to Serbia to visit her long-term partner.
This year, however, a trip abroad is canceled - for good reason: if everything goes according to plan, Ahr will not be the only leap year birthday child in her family.
“It just so happens that my first grandchild’s due date is February 29th,” she says beaming.
“I’ll be on call that day.”
On the occasion of her 17th birthday this Thursday, Angelika Ahr made a special resolution.
“I think I’m going to get my driver’s license,” she jokes.
“Accompanied driving is already allowed at my age.”
“It’s something special – but I didn’t choose it”
The Tölz businessman Peter Wiedemann also has only his 17th birthday this year.
In general, he looks at his unusual date of birth rather soberly.
“It’s something special – but I didn’t choose it,” he comments.
The only point of discussion is that he is repeatedly asked whether he should be congratulated on February 28th or March 1st in non-leap years.
“I’m for March 1st,” he clarifies.
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Since he is generally a “reserved celebrator,” he doesn’t think it’s a bad thing that big birthdays like his 50th or, in two years’ time, his 70th don’t actually happen – and he’s therefore not obligated to go to any big parties.
Peter Wiedemann would much rather take flight around his special day.
He usually takes a vacation and goes ski touring.
Congratulations are made on March 1st - anything else brings bad luck
Michael Babic from Tölz also deals very calmly with the fact that he was born on February 29th - in this case 48 years ago.
“As a child, I obviously thought it was something very special – but as you get older you lose sight of your birthday,” he says.
That's why this Thursday is actually "a day like any other" for him.
The congratulations that came from outside, on the other hand, are increasing - probably due to digital birthday calendars or social media, Babic suspects.
In non-leap years, he prefers congratulations on March 1st - before that it brings bad luck, at least some in his family are convinced, he says with a laugh.
Even during the year, he is asked about his date of birth from time to time, says Babic - for example, when he notices it when registering with the doctor.
Does that bother him?
“No, no, that’s nice small talk,” says the savings bank employee.
Now, on his twelfth anniversary, he finds it surprising to look back on the time since his last birthday.
“It’s been four very eventful years,” he says.
On his eleventh birthday, for example, the Corona crisis was only in its early stages.