Senior jokes he can finally have a drink: It's his 19th leap year birthday

A 76-year-old Saskatchewan man says he can finally have a beer in good conscience today because, officially, it's his 19th birthday.

"I'm legal age!" Lowell Lanigan joked.

Lanigan was born Feb. 29, 1948. Since his birthday falls on a leap year, fewer than 1 in 1,400 people share that birth date.

Lanigan says he doesn't feel special, and celebrates his birthday March 1 most years.

However, even though he may not think it's special, others do. He's reminded of his status every four years by friends and family in his home of Strasbourg, Sask., about 70 kilometres north of Regina.

Lanigan's wife, Linda, and friends plan to celebrate his leap year birthday with a turkey dinner. (supplied by Lowell Lanigan)

He says his wife and friends are planning a turkey dinner for him. The retired teacher says students and staff would congratulate him every four years, and places a lighted sign outside the school to celebrate.

He expects to hear from some of them today.

"Having taught for 30 years, I have many of my students contact me and wish me every four years, and they remember it more than anybody," he said.

Lanigan said some of his younger grandchildren and other young people don't understand why there are more days this year than others.

The leap day is required every four years to keep calendars co-ordinated with the Earth's orbit of the sun.