Bichitra News Desk, 8 February:

Newspapers bring the world to people’s doorsteps—whether it’s events from any corner of the globe, violations of public rights, or fluctuations in the economy and trade. Although newspapers originally emerged to serve commercial interests, their role has expanded far beyond that. Even in today’s digital and social media era, where news spreads instantly, the appeal and prestige of printed papers remain strong.

Daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or quarterly—newspapers and magazines come in many forms. But have you ever seen a newspaper that is published only once every four years? It may sound surprising, but such a newspaper does exist. It is a special French-language publication that comes out exclusively on 29 February. Hard to believe, isn’t it?

This newspaper is published only during leap years—no other edition is printed. It first began its journey in Paris in 1980. Over the past 43 years, only 12 issues have been published. Naturally, the question arises: why is this newspaper printed only once every four years?

To find the answer, we must go back to the late 1970s. Two French friends—polytechnician Jacques Debuisson and press expert Christian Bailly—launched the newspaper La Bougie du Sapeur, which translates to “The Sapper’s Candle.” The name was inspired by 19th-century French cartoonist Sapeur Camember.

This 20‑page newspaper has a unique rule: a new issue is printed only on 29 February. Priced at €4.90 (or $4.20), the tabloid now has a circulation of 200,000 copies.

Editor Jean d’Indy says the first issue sold out within just two days. When news vendors asked for more copies, he jokingly replied, “All right—but you’ll have to wait four years!”

Although humorous in nature, La Bougie du Sapeur is laid out like a traditional newspaper. It features politics, sports, international affairs, arts and culture, puzzles, and even celebrity interviews. However, every report is presented with a comedic twist. According to the editor, the paper is “anti–politically correct.”

The headline story of the 2024 edition reads: “We Will All Become Intelligent.” It discusses how exams and traditional measures of human intelligence are becoming obsolete due to AI.
The second major story is titled “What Men Should Know Before Becoming Women,” focusing on the challenges faced by transgender women.

The editor notes that this French satirical newspaper is not translated into any other language. “We try to act silly, but never rude. We make fun—but never cruelly,” he said.

This special newspaper is not available online. It can only be purchased from news agents, street vendors, and newspaper kiosks across France.