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Keith McCord reportingThey happen every four years: Presidential elections, the Olympics, and Leap Year.
Today is Feb. 29, of course, and people all over the world are recognizing the big day in a variety of ways.
Birthdays on this date are a big deal. So are weddings. We talked with parents who are celebrating the arrival of a newborn today. We talked with other, older, "leaplings" who were born on this date. And, we found some newlyweds.
Amy Jo and Matthew Traynor are the proud parents of a newborn "leapling," born early this morning. They never imagined their baby, scheduled to be born on March 4, would be born on Leap Day.
Matthew said, "Last night we thought this is probably the one and only day we don't have to worry about having the baby. Then early this morning she wakes up at 2:00 and then wakes me up at 3:00, and at 4:40 we have the baby."
Sharing a birthday with your dad is rare, but sharing a Leap-Day birthday is even more unusual. Bill Freeze and his daughter Camille have celebrated each of their seven birthdays together.
Camille said, "I think if I had to do it by myself it wouldn't be as fun if I didn't have my dad. So every four years we do go all out and our family does a lot for us. So we have a really good time."
Bill said, "This year Cami's 28 and I'm 14. She's really in her seventh real birthday, but I like to say I'm a 14-year-old dad with a 28-year-old daughter."
Tina and Greg Wilder were all smiles today after their wedding in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. It's no accident that today is their wedding day; they picked this date specifically.
"It's unique," they said. "You know, only one in four years that people can get married on Leap Day."
"The truth is, it took me two and a half years to get married, so I thought that I'd give him a break by having it on Leap year. So every four years, that's all he has to worry about!" Tina said.
Brittany and Anthony Cox were also married today. Both couples say they'll celebrate each year, but every Leap Year they'll do something special. "We'll celebrate every year on the 28th or the 1st, and then every four years we'll do a big celebration. We want a big trip," they said.
Businesses are also offering today-only deals to folks born on Leap Year. They include:
- A free large pizza at Papa Johns
- Red Lion hotel has been giving away prizes every 29 minutes today
- Hotel Monaco has rooms for $129
- "Leaplings" got in free to Hogle Zoo today
Worldwide, 4 million people are celebrating Leap Year birthdays today.
