PUBLISHED February 18th, 2016 04:37 pm | UPDATED June 2nd, 2020 07:17 pm
29 FEB 2016 | That’s right, four years have passed since the last leap year in 2012. That’s a whole 24 hours of extra time, so how are you going to spend it? Put this leap day, aka. Ja Rule’s birthday, to good use with some of these great ideas:
Pro tip: If you were born or married on 29 February, you’ll definitely want to read this article till the end.
1. Call In Sick for Work
A leap day comes once every four years, so why should you have to spend it at work? Also, did you know that you’re essentially working for free on leap day? If you’re paid fixed annual or monthly salaries, wages are usually not calculated to account for the extra day.
You might want to call your boss that morning and say “I’ll just see you in March, ok?”… we’re just kidding.
2. Enjoy a Seafood Buffet Dinner at Kwee Zeen
Born on 29 February? If so, it’s your lucky (birth)day—enjoy a complimentary Seafood Buffet Dinner at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa’s Kwee Zeen and choose from an amazing international spread (including several live stations), where you’ll find delectable dishes such as chicken cordon bleu, rotisserie carvings, as well as Asian delicacies like roti prata, butter chicken, and sambal squid.
The cheese and cured meat section is also impressive with more than 20 selections, but what we love most about the place is its massive seafood spread, from several types of crabs and prawns to a wide array of live oysters, scallops, smoked fish and sashimi.
Prior reservation is required by 24 February at 6708 8310 / 6708 8366. Limited to the first 50 leap year babies. Available for regular dining at $88++ per adult and $42++ per child.
3. Watch A Leap Year Movie
Did you know that Singapore has a movie about the leap year? The Leap Years is a popular MediaCorp production based on Catherine Lim’s novella Leap of Love and stars Ananda Everingham and Wong Li-Lin. Another alternative is the 2010 American film Leap Year, because Amy Adams. Enough said.
4. Celebrate Your Wedding Anniversary at ilLido at the Cliff
If you were married on a leap day, head over to the Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort’s Facebook page, participate in their wall contest, and you may be one of 10 couples to celebrate your anniversary over a romantic sunset dinner at ilLido at the Cliff, a secluded and gorgeous Italian restaurant overlooking the South China Sea. The newly-launched restaurant brings together the best of two worlds—a combination of ‘The Cliff’ (previously one of Singapore’s most romantic dining spots) and ‘ilLido’, a stalwart brand in the Italian dining scene.
Limited to the first 10 leap year couples. For more information, please click here.
5. Throw a Leap Year Party at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa
The town of Anthony in Texas is the self-proclaimed ‘Leap Year Capital’ of the world. If they can do it, why can’t we? Celebrate by holding a leap year party at one of Sofitel Singapore Sentosa’s gorgeous garden villas—the 300 square meters of space include a huge living room (with its own 47-inch TV), two elegant bedrooms, a Pharo massage-jet whirlpool, a private swimming pool, and a lovely garden terrace!
6. Propose to your Man
Reverse traditional gender roles and honour an age-old Leap Day tradition by proposing to your man instead. No one really knows how this tradition came about (some suspect it’s the work of Scotland’s Queen Margaret back in the 1200s), but if the Leap Year is anything to go by, doing so on this special day is supposed to be good luck.
While this tradition is obsolete in today’s generation where many more ladies are proposing first, it might just be the extra confidence boost you need.
7. Eat Frog Leg Porridge
We’re not sure why, but Frog Leg Porridge is a highly underrated local dish that lives (unfortunately) in the shadows of its popular cousins Char Kway Teow, Chicken Rice, and Hokkien Mee. That makes leap day a perfect occasion to indulge in a hot pot of tasty frog leg porridge, in its saucy and meaty glory. After all, lonely things deserve each other.
8. Write Letters to Yourself
Having a day that comes only once every four years can be a great opportunity for self-reflection. Why not write a letter to yourself and store it in a ‘time capsule’ to open up in 2020?
9. Find a Leaper To Celebrate With
People born on 29 February are called leapers or leaplings, and it’s literally a cosmic joke. I mean, imagine celebrating your birthday only once every four years. Find a ‘leaper’ friend and give them four presents or buy them four meals, so they know that they’re loved. Just remember to put the correct number of candles on the cake.
10. Participate in this Facebook Contest
Know anyone who was born on 29 February? Get them to participate in this Facebook contest by Sofitel Singapore Sentosa and they might just win four birthday presents chockfull of love—one night’s staycation for two, a Sentosa Massage by So SPA for two, a Canon Ixus 150 camera, and a special gift from a luxurious French brand. All they have to do is share the craziest leap year celebration they’ve had in 150 words along with a photo. Start leaping into action now!
Contest ends on 29 Feb 2016.
This post is sponsored by Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa.