Approximately 5 million people across the globe celebrate their birthday on 29 February, a date that only appears on the calendar once every four years.
Sharing such a unique birthday is not uncommon, but what is very extraordinary is two “leaplings”, as people born on this day are known, being married to each other.
One such a unique couple is Arnold and Gwen Nepgen who live in Hermanus. Arnold is a well-known pharmacist at Alex Grant Pharmacy.
“I know one or two other people who also have their birthday on 29 February, but I don’t know of any other couple who were both born on this date,” he told the Hermanus Times. “When I meet someone who was also born on 29 February it’s very interesting and I tell myself I’m not too weird.
The couple met years ago when they were both in Grade 3 in Aliwal-North. Although they found it interesting that they shared the same unique birth date, said Arnold, they were never really fazed by it. They were also born on the same day, but at different hospitals.
Love between the two bloomed during their high-school years, but after completing matric their paths separated when Arnold went off to university and Gwen started working.
They rekindled their romance when Arnold was in his final year of studying. After both found employment in the Western Cape they started making plans for the future and decided to marry in May 2022.
Asked whether they ever considered ever marrying on 29 February, Arnold just laughed and said: “Well, no! That would have been too freaky.”
The couple have three children – two sons and a daughter – and have many shared interests such as an active outdoors lifestyle.
Although their birthday technically only comes once every four years, they have no special plans for tonight.
“Because it’s in the week we will probably just have a special dinner and then celebrate our birthdays with family over the weekend,” Arnold said.
“We have always celebrated our birthdays on the last day of February. When we’re in the mood we will celebrate it on 1 March as well. And if it’s on a weekend we’ll just party throughout!”
