Four leap year lassies born Feb. 29, 1968, at Butler County Memorial Hospital, share a “first birthday” cake Feb. 29, 1972, at the YMCA. From left are Michelle Reinhart, Melissa Freiters, Sonya Barnes and Kay Ellen Double. Butler Eagle File Photo

One puff and four candles went out.

Four leap year lassies born Feb. 29, 1968, at Butler County Memorial Hospital, shared a "first birthday" cake on leap day afternoon at the YMCA in 1972. The children celebrating their first leap day birthday that day were Michelle Reinhart, Melissa Freiters, Sonya Barnes and Kay Ellen Double.

Julius Caesar was responsible for placing the extra day at the end of February once every four years. On the ancient Roman calendar, February was the last month of the year, and the extra day justifies the inaccuracy caused by the 365-day year, according to a custom established in 46 B.C. Feb. 28, 1972.