Today is 29 February, that mans it’s Leap Year Day!
Leap years are years containing one extra day added to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical and seasonal year. Leap Year Day is that special day that comes only once every four years as the cycle repeats itself.
There are many leap year traditions, here are a few:
1. Women proposing to men. This is an Irish legend that states that women breaking tradition by asking a man to marry her actually balances tradition the way the leap year balances the calendar.
2. In some places, Leap Year Day is known as Bachelors’ Day. On this day, a bachelor is expected to pay a penalty if he refuses a marriage proposal from a woman.
3. In many European countries, especially in upper class societies, tradition dictates that any man who refuses a woman’s proposal on 29 February has to buy her 12 pairs of gloves to hide her shame of not having an engagement ring. In the middle ages there was a law governing this tradition.
4. In Scotland it is considered unlucky to be born on Leap Year Day, much like Friday the 13th. Greeks consider it unlucky for couples to marry during a leap year, especially on Leap Year Day.
5. Leap Year Day is also St. Oswalds Day, named after the archbishop of York who died on 29 February 992. His memorial is celebrated on Leap Year Day.
How do you celebrate Leap Year Day?
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