February 29

 Holidays and Observances
(Alphabetical Order)

2024 Daily Holidays that fall on February 29, include:

• Bachelor's Day - February 29 (Every 4 Years - 2016, 2020, 2024 etc)
• Digital Learning Day - February 29, 2024 (Last Thursday in February)
• International Underlings Day - February 29 (Every 4 Years - 2016, 2020, 2024 etc)
• Leap Year Day 
• National Chili Day - February 29, 2024 (Last Thursday in February)
• National Toast Day - February 29, 2024 (Last Thursday in February)
• Rare Disease Day - February 29, 2024 (Last Day of February)
• Superman's Birthday
• Surf and Turf Day 
• Yellowstone Park Day 

2024 Weekly Holidays that include February 29, are:

• America Saves Week - February 26 - March 2, 2024 (6 Days Starting on the Last Monday in February)
• Fairtrade Fortnight - February 26 - March 10, 2024 (14 Days Starting the Last Monday in February)
• International Petroleum Week - February 27-29, 2024
• Lent - February 14 - March 26, 2024 (Begins on Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday)
  
• Make Mine Chocolate - (Campaign kicks off annually on Feb 15, and ends on Easter which is March 31, 2024)
  
• National Eating Disorders Awareness Week - February 26 - March 4, 2024 
  
• National Green Week - February 4 - April 30, 2024 (Start First Full Week in February to April 30)
  
• National Invasive Species Awareness Week - February 26 - March 1, 2024 (For 5 Days Starting the Last Monday in February)
• National Pasty Week - February 26 - March 3, 2024 (Closest to St. Piran's Day on March 5th)
• Peace Corp Week - February 25 - March 2, 2024
• Telecommuter Appreciation Week - February 25 - March 2, 2024 (Week that includes Alexander Graham Bell's Birthday of 3/2)

There are too many monthly holidays to include here, so please check out my February Holidays page to see all of the holidays that are celebrated the entire month of February.

NOTE: A page on each holiday will be coming soon and linked above.

World Festivals and Events
(Date Order)

• Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival - Usually starts annually on January 5, and typically runs for a month or more, in Harbin, China and is the largest ice and snow festival in the world! 2024 dates are December 20, 2024 - Early March, 2024. 
• Chinese New Year Festival and Parade - (San Francisco) - February 3 - March 3, 2024, Parade on February 24, 2024
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo - February 27 - March 17, 2024 (Houston, TX)

Astrological Sign

The Astrological Sign for February 29 is Pisces.

Birth Flower of the Month

The Birth Flower(s) for the Month for February are:

• Violet - symbolizes faithfulness, loyalty, humility, wisdom, and hope
  
• Primrose - Modesty, distinction, and virtue
  
  

Birthstone

The Birthstone for February is Amethyst.

Famous Birthdays

I guess this would be one way to stay young....just have a birthday every 4 years!! People born on February 29, are often called leap year babies or a leapling. Some people choose to celebrate their birthdays on February 28, or March 1 in non-leap years.

Some Counties have specific rules to establish the date, like the U.S. will recognize February 28 as the birthday when turning 21 if it is a non-leap year. Other countries like England and Hong Kong recognize March 1 as the non-leap year birthday.

Here are some famous February 29 Birthdays:

• 1736 – Ann Lee, American founder of Shakers (d. 1784)
• 1812 – Sir James Wilson, Premier of Tasmania (d. 1880)
• 1904 – Jimmy Dorsey, American bandleader (d. 1957)
• 1916 – Dinah Shore, American singer and actress (d. 1994)

Famous Deaths

• 1880 – Sir James Wilson, Premier of Tasmania (b. 1812) - He is the only person known to have been born and died on February 29!
  
• 2012 – Davy Jones, English singer, songwriter and actor (The Monkees) (b. 1945)

Famous Weddings and Divorces

• In Greece, it is considered unlucky to marry on Leap Day
• 2012 - Actor Dick Van Dyke (86) weds make-up artist Arlene Silver (40) in Malibu

Quote of the Day

Don't let Yesterday use up too much of Today!

Don't live in the past - enjoy the present!

Healthy Diet Habit Tip of the Day 
or a Recipe of the Day

Coming Soon!

Season

February 29th falls within the Winter Season in the Northern Hemisphere.

Winter is one of the four seasons. It follows the Fall Season, and is before the Spring Season. It is the coldest and darkest season in the Northern Hemisphere. It also starts in one year, and ends in the next, so it straddles two different years. 

Check out our Winter Season page for information about Winter, Winter Dates, Major Winter Holidays and Observances, Major Winter Festivals, Fun Facts About Winter, Winter Food Tips, Winter Gardening, Winter Preparation, Winter Quotes, and Winter Weather Information.

Kerry has put together some great information and tips on winter foods: 

• Winter Foods
• Winter Weight Gain
• Winter Weight Loss Tips

If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, this day falls in the Summer Season. 

• Summer
• Summer Cooking 
• Summer Weight Loss Tips 

This Day in History

• 1796 - Ten years of peaceful trade due to the Jay Treaty between the United States and Great Britain.
• 1892 - St. Petersburg, Florida is incorporated
• 1916 - The United Kingdom annexes Tokelau
• 1916 - South Carolina raises the minimum working age from twelve to fourteen years old for factory, mill, and mine workers
• 1940 - Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award for her performance as Mammy in Gone With The Wind
• 1960 - 12,000 dead and 12,000 injured when the 5.7 Mw Agadir earthquake hits coastal Morocco
• 1972 - South Korea withdraws 11,000 of its 48,000 troops from Vietnam
• 1996 - 123 passengers and crew perish when Faucett Flight 251 crashes in the Andes
• 2008 - Price Harry is removed from his tour of Afghanistan after the foreign media leaked his deployment
• 2012 - Tokyo Skytree construction is finished making it the tallest tower in the world

This Day in Music

1968 - Aretha Franklin wins the first ever Best Female R & B Vocal performance category for her song "Respect"

1992 - U2 premieres their Zoo TV tour in Lakeland, Florida

(above) U2 - Running to Stand Still - Where the Streets Have No Name - Zoo TV Sydney, Australia

This Day in Sports

• 1972 - Hank Aaron becomes the first player to earn $200,000 average annual salary when he signs a 3 year deal with the Atlanta Braves
• 1980 - Gordie Howe of the Hartford Whalers scores his 800th goal

Word of the Day from Wiktionary

Wishing You a Great Day Today!