Photos by Linny Folau

On 29 February, Tongatapu produced all of Tonga’s 2016 Leap year babies, with the arrivals of four boys and five girls, known as "leaplings".

Babies born on the Leap Day, 29 February, can look forward to their real birthday on this exact day, only every four-years. They may be called a "leapling" usually celebrating birthdays on 28 February or 1 March.

Tonga's five baby girls are ‘Ileana Selupe from Longolongo, Yasmin Prescott of Kolofo’ou and three yet to be named baby Pola from Havelu, baby Tenifa of Pea and baby Hufanga from Tatakamotonga. The four boys are Siale Fonohema from Ha’akame, Hingano William Finau of Tofoa, Haealivingi Lemani from Ma’ufanga and baby Tu’amoheloa from Ha’alalo.

Meanwhile, none of the outer islands hospitals and health centers recorded any leap day births in ‘Eua, Ha’apai, Vava’u and Niuafo’ou and Niuatoputapu on 29 February.

The last leap day was on February 29, 2012 when Tongatapu recorded seven leaplings.

According to science, having a Leap Year every four years is needed to keep our calendar in alignment with planet earth as it revolves around the sun. Apparently, it takes the earth 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes and 46 seconds to circle around the sun once. This called a tropical year.

If we do not add a day, February 29, every four-years to our calendar, we would lose almost six hours every year, and after 100 years, our calendar would be off by approximately 24 or 25 days.