How A 100-Year-Old American Woman Celebrates 25th Birthday This Leap Year

An elderly woman from Oklahoma, USA, is celebrating her 25th birthday on February 29. Mary Lea Forsythe of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, has been alive for over 100 years, but since she was born on Leap Year Day, she has celebrated her birthday only a handful of times. She was recently honoured by a local non-profit organisation for people who are a hundred years of age or older. The Centenarians of Oklahoma posted about the grand feat on Facebook.

According to CBS News, the Centenarians of Oklahoma held a birthday party and honoured Forsythe on the memorable occasion. They handed her a certificate and celebrated with her favourite music, a cake, and some balloons. Forsythe also made a speech at the event. The 100-year-old celebrating her 25th birthday told the organisation that she "loves all things musical and plays the piano and mandolin," She also said that her favourite song is Sitting at the Feet of Jesus. 

February 29 Birthdays

Fun fact: There is about a one in 1,461 chance of being born on February 29, according to studies. These leaplings get to celebrate their birthdays only once every four years. One such leapling is Julia Alsop, who is celebrating her seventh birthday even though she was born in 1996. 

Technically, a 28-year-old, Alsop, a medical student from Warwickshire, England, jokingly celebrated her unusual birthday like an actual 7-year-old child, with decor adorned with cartoon characters. She told the BBC that she finds it funny to watch people's confused reactions when she tells them that she is only 7 years old.

In London, a primary school teacher is celebrating her 15th birthday, having been born on February 29, 1964. Jane Atkins is ditching a birthday cake for a banana, decorated with candles that read '15'. The 60-year-old told the BBC that she often has to mention her birthday as February 28 on online forms that do not include her real date of birth as an option. Yet she says she finds herself special.

Joe Middleton from Leicestershire is turning eight (technically 32) and told the BBC that he is often the butt of jokes where his friends call him the youngest in the group. He also enjoys watching the expression on nightclub ushers' faces when they check his ID. On a non-leap year, he usually celebrates on February 28 but often keeps the festivities going into March as well.