Flour Massacre
The Flour Massacre took place in the Gaza Strip: Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting for aid amidst the Gaza war, killing over 100 and wounding 750.
What happened on February 29
27 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 4 observances. From 1704 to 2024.
Standout on February 29
2020
Luxembourg
Luxembourg becomes the first country in the world to render public transport free nationwide.
About February 29
February 29 is the 60th day of the year. These facts are computed from the calendar, not copied from anywhere.
- Day of the year
- Day 60 of 366 (leap years only)306 days left in a leap year
- Falls on
- Tuesday in 2028
- Week
- ISO week 9 of 2026 · Q1
- Zodiac sign
- ♓ Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
- Season
- Winter in the north · Summer in the south
- February birthstone
- Amethystcalm, clarity and courage
- February birth flower
- Violet / Primrosefaithfulness and young love
- Next occurrence
- In 124 days
- Roman numerals
- XXIX.IIday.month — see the Roman numeral date tool
Anniversaries in 2026
- 30thClaudia Williams (tennis)1996
- 30thFaucett Perú Flight 2511996
- 30thNelson Asofa-Solomona1996
- 30thNorberto Briasco1996
- 30thReece Prescod1996
- 30thSiege of Sarajevo1996
- 10th2016 Miqdadiyah bombing2016
- 10thGil Hill2016
February 29 through the years
- 10 years ago2016
- 2016 Miqdadiyah bombing · Gil Hill · Wenn V. Deramas
- 25 years ago2001
- Nothing recorded
- 50 years ago1976
- Nothing recorded
- 100 years ago1926
- Nothing recorded
- 200 years ago1826
- Nothing recorded
Born on February 29 — ages this year
- 2008Rémi Himbertturns 18
- 2004Abdukodir Khusanovturns 22
- 2004Lydia Jacobyturns 22
- 2000Ferran Torresturns 26
- 2000Tyrese Haliburtonturns 26
- 2000Jesper Lindstrømturns 26
Historical events 27
A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Colectivo (Venezuela)
During a demonstration, pro-government colectivos shoot at disputed President and Speaker of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó and his supporters in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, leaving five injured.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg becomes the first country in the world to render public transport free nationwide.
Muhyiddin Yassin
Muhyiddin Yassin is appointed as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia, amid the 2020 Malaysian political crisis.
United States
The United States and the Taliban sign the Doha Agreement for bringing peace to Afghanistan.
2016 Miqdadiyah bombing
In the Miqdadiyah bombing: at least 40 people are killed and 58 others wounded following a suicide bombing by ISIL at a Shi'ite funeral in the city of Miqdadiyah, Diyala, Iraq.
North Korea
North Korea agrees to suspend uranium enrichment and nuclear and long-range missile tests in return for US food aid.
Tokyo Skytree
Construction of Tokyo Skytree, the world's tallest tower and third-tallest structure, was completed.
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence withdraws Prince Harry from a tour of Afghanistan after news of his deployment is leaked to foreign media.
Misha Defonseca
Belgian author Misha Defonseca admitted that her bestselling memoir about surviving the Holocaust was in fact a literary forgery.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie wears a White Marc Bouwer dress to the 76th Academy Awards, which has since been placed on numerous lists for best red carpet fashion.
Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide was overthrown following popular rebel uprising.
Second Chechen War
Chechens attack a guard post near Ulus Kert, eventually killing 84 Russian paratroopers during the Second Chechen War.
Siege of Sarajevo
The Siege of Sarajevo officially ends.
Faucett Perú Flight 251
In the deadliest aviation accident in Peruvian history, Faucett Flight 251 crashed on approach to Rodríguez Ballón International Airport, killing all 123 people aboard.
Costello's
Costello's, a New York City bar popular with journalists, writers, novelists, and cartoonists, closed.
Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
A referendum is begun in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the determination of Bosnian independence.
Svend Robinson
Svend Robinson becomes the first member of the House of Commons of Canada to come out as gay.
Desmond Tutu
South African archbishop Desmond Tutu is arrested along with 100 other clergymen during a five-day anti-apartheid demonstration in Cape Town.
Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau announces his retirement as Liberal Party leader and Prime Minister of Canada.
La Bougie du Sapeur
La Bougie du Sapeur, a humorous French newspaper that is published only on leap days, printed its first issue.
Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe of the Hartford Whalers makes NHL history as he scores his 800th goal.
South Vietnam
South Korea withdraws 11,000 of its 48,000 troops from South Vietnam as part of Nixon's Vietnamization policy in the Vietnam War.
1960 Agadir earthquake
The deadliest earthquake in Moroccan history (damaged building pictured) struck the city of Agadir, killing at least 12,000 people.
World War II
World War II: The Admiralty Islands campaign began when American forces assaulted Los Negros Island, the third largest of the Admiralty Islands.
12th Academy Awards
At the 12th Academy Awards, Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to be awarded an Oscar, winning Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind.
Queen Anne's War
Queen Anne's War: French and Native American forces raided the English settlement of Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing more than 50 colonists.
Births 20
A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
Deaths 20
A notable person who died on this day.
Ali Hassan Mwinyi
Ali Hassan Mwinyi, 2nd President of Tanzania and 3rd President of Zanzibar (born 1925)
Éva Székely
Éva Székely, Hungarian Hall of Fame swimmer and 1952 Olympic champion (born 1927)
Kagamisato Kiyoji
Kagamisato Kiyoji, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 42nd Yokozuna (born 1923)
Harold Bernard St. John
Harold Bernard St. John, Barbadian lawyer and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Barbados (born 1931)
Holidays & observances 4
A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
Bachelor's Day (tradition)
Bachelor's Day (Ireland and United Kingdom)
John Cassian
As a Christian feast day: Saint John Cassian
Rare Disease Day
Rare Disease Day (in leap years; usually celebrated in common years on February 28)
February 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
As a Christian feast day: February 29 in the Orthodox church
Spread across the centuries
- 18th century1
- 20th century32
- 21st century34
Earliest: Queen Anne's War (1704). Most recent: Flour Massacre (2024).
What the categories mean, and how the standout is chosen
- Historical events
- A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
- Births
- A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
- Deaths
- A notable person who died on this day.
- Milestones
- A first, a founding or a turning point our editors flagged as a landmark moment.
- Holidays & observances
- A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
- Standout / notable
- Editor-written entries come first, then entries covered by the most Wikipedia language editions. For the standout tile we prefer an entry that has a picture.
Nearby and related
Questions about February 29
What day of the year is February 29?
February 29 is the 60th day of the year, with 306 days left after it.
What star sign is February 29?
February 29 falls under Pisces (February 19 – March 20), a water sign ruled by Neptune (traditionally Jupiter). The birthstone for the month is Amethyst.
How many things happened on February 29?
We record 71 entries for February 29: 27 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 4 observances. From 1704 to 2024.
Who was born on February 29?
Rémi Himbert (2008) is among the notable births on February 29. The births section lists the rest.
How often is the February 29 page updated?
The day is filled the first time anyone opens it and then re-checked for new entries about every 90 days. Computed facts such as the weekday and the anniversaries update every year.
Get a daily entry like February 29
One short email a day from this calendar. Kept for this site only.
Text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0 and from Wikidata (CC0). Images come from Wikimedia Commons; credit and licence are shown with each image. Editorial entries are © What's On This Date. Sources & licensing · How this site works.