In the fold

Paper gets props for leap day

By CHRISTINE LIU

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You'd think that leap day, with its furtive appearance every four years (give or take, with the strange corner cases sneaking through the rule of leap years being divisible by four but not divisible by 100, except when the year is divisible by 400—got that?), would be more of an occasion. The seasonal Olympic Games receive rousing pomp and circumstance and the four-year presidential term couldn't possibly get more of a countdown, but leap day just seems a bit random and geeky in the Caesarian-meets-Gregorian calendar kind of way.

But even more reason to celebrate—am I right?

Blessed with an extra 24 hours this year, you should use it wisely on something worthwhile like meticulously constructing origami leaping frogs. Yeah. There's plenty of instructions online, but for a paralyzing blast of paper-folding energy, sign up for a lesson at Haverhill-based Origamidō Studio [By appointment only. 978.372.1215. origamido.com], the only dedicated origami studio in the country. Many of their fold-tastic works are displayed in the "Origami Now!" exhibition up until June at the Peabody Essex Museum [161 Essex St., Salem. 978.745.9500. pem.org].

And as for this leap day, let it all fall neatly into your hands.

POLKA DOTS ORIGAMI PAPER | $6.95

12" X 12" PRINTS | $1

[Available at Paper Source, 338 Boylston St., Boston. 617.536.3444. paper-source.com]