French leap year newspaper to hit shelves for first time since... 2016 It appears every leap year, on February 29, since 1980 meaning fans of the "La Bougie du Sapeur" newspaper can finally get their hands on issue No. 11 when it hits the shelves from Thursday. The paper's name, literally 'The Soldier's Candle', is borrowed from a comic book character - a soldier - born in 1896. The soldier was born on February 29 and joined the army on his 'fourth' birthday. This year 200,000 copies of La Bougie Sapeur will go on sale, for 4.80 euros apiece.