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31 fun facts for February, 29

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
February 29th, known as Leap Day, boasts a variety of fun facts, including the birth of Levi Strauss and the founding of San Francisco. From the first same-sex marriage representation in a TV show to Google's "AlphaGo" defeating a Go world champion, these unique events are celebrated only once every four years.
31 Fun facts
  1. In 1940, the 12th Academy Awards took place on February 29, honoring the best films of 1939. "Gone with the Wind" took home 8 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Oscar).
  2. On February 29, 1960, an earthquake in Agadir, Morocco, claimed the lives of more than 12,000 people and destroyed the city. It was the deadliest earthquake in Moroccan history and led to improved building standards in the country.
  3. February 29, 2012, marks the date when Pope Benedict XVI held an online prayer gathering called a "Virtual Choir." More than 4,000 people from around the world participated by submitting prayer videos on YouTube.
  4. Levi Strauss was born on February 29, 1829. Known as the creator of blue jeans, Strauss founded the first company to manufacture blue jeans and became a pioneer in the U.S. garment industry.
  5. On February 29, 1946, the first NBA game was played. It was called the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and featured the New York Knicks and Toronto Huskies. The NBA was formed months later as a merge between the BAA and the National Basketball League (NBL).
  6. February 29 is recognized as Rare Disease Day, which was first observed in 2008. The goal is to raise awareness about rare diseases and improve access to medical care and support for those living with them.
  7. February 29, 1972, marks the date when Hank Aaron became the first Major League Baseball player to sign a contract worth $200,000 per year.
  8. Dinah Shore, a popular American singer, actress, and television personality, was born on February 29, 1916. She became famous for her string of hit radio and television shows in the 1940s-1960s.
  9. In 1584, artist Peter Paul Rubens married his first wife, Isabella Brant, on February 29. The famous painter was known for his work during the Baroque period, including pieces like "The Elevation of the Cross" and "The Last Judgment."
  10. On February 29, 1976, the first TV show to feature same-sex marriages, the American sitcom "Norman, Is That You?" premiered. The show revolved around the life of a gay interior decorator and his father.
  11. The city of San Francisco was founded on February 29, 1852. The city has become one of the most famous tourist destinations globally, renowned for its Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, and cable cars.
  12. In 1692, the Salem Witch Trials began. It started on February 29 with the arrest of Sarah Osborne, Sarah Good, and a slave named Tituba for their alleged involvement in practicing witchcraft.
  13. Charles XIII of Sweden, who reigned from 1809 to 1818, was born on February 29, 1746. He is notable for being the last king of Sweden to hold the title of King of Finland between 1809-1917.
  14. In 1940, the first Superman newspaper comic strip was published on February 29, featuring the iconic character created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster.
  15. In 1996, the Siebel Open Tennis Championships in California became the first event in professional tennis history to offer equal prize money for men and women on February 29.
  16. On February 29, 1996, the U.S. Postal Service unveiled its first self-adhesive stamp to reduce licking-related health issues and decrease stamp production costs.
  17. In 1504, Christopher Columbus used his knowledge of a lunar eclipse on February 29 to convince the native Jamaicans that his gods were angry and needed food supplies. In response, the local population provided Columbus and his crew with provisions.
  18. On February 29, 2016, Google's computer program "AlphaGo" defeated Go world champion Lee Sedol in a historic victory for artificial intelligence advancements.
  19. February 29, 1916, marks the date when Child Labor Laws were imposed in the U.S. These laws regulated the conditions and hours of work for children under 16 years old.
  20. In 2004, the first Leap Year Women's Golf Tournament took place on February 29. This unique event featured women with leap day birthdays and aimed at encouraging women's participation in the sport.
  21. February 29, 1952, is marked as the launch of the first pedestrian crossing in Slough, UK, designed to provide a safer way for people to cross the road.
  22. Ja Rule, an American rapper, singer, and actor, was born on February 29, 1976. His notable works include songs like "I'm Real" with Jennifer Lopez and starring in the film "The Fast and the Furious."
  23. In 1868, Benjamin Harrison became the first U.S. president born in a leap year. He was born on August 20, 1833, and served as the 23rd president of the United States, overseeing the McKinley Tariff and the Sherman Antitrust Act.
  24. The first Cabaret Voltaire, a venue that marked the beginning of the Dada movement in art, opened on February 29, 1916, in Zurich, Switzerland.
  25. On February 29, 1989, New Zealand passed the Adoption Act of 1955, allowing adult adoptees access to their original birth records as the first country in the world to provide unconditional access.
  26. February 29, 2012, marked the release of Vampire Weekend's music video for "Giving Up the Gun," featuring famous celebrities like Jake Gyllenhaal, Joe Jonas, Lil Jon, and RZA.
  27. In 1796, President George Washington delivered his second Farewell Address on February 29, during which he urged Americans to avoid involvement in foreign wars and stressed the value of unity.
  28. In 1968, Svend Robinson, a Canadian politician who openly came out as gay during his career, was born on February 29. He became the first openly gay member of the Canadian House of Commons.
  29. On February 29, 1904, the U.S. Patent Office granted George F. Grant a design patent for the wooden golf tee, changing the way golfers played the sport.
  30. In 1944, the Wolverines, a Michigan-based hockey team, became the first U.S. professional team to lose three games in one day on February 29. The games were played against the Detroit Red Wings, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the New York Rangers.
  31. February 29 is celebrated as "Bachelor's Day" in some countries, where women propose to men. It is believed to have originated in fifth-century Ireland, and today the tradition is also known as "Sadie Hawkins Day" in the United States.

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