February 29th, 2012

Happy Leap Year, everyone! As I'm sure you know, every four years February has an extra 29th day to keep the years in time with the seasons. As with many such occasions, there is legend and myth tied to this event, dating back to as early as the 1400s.

According to legend, St. Brighid (sound like a Christianized version of an Imbolc Goddess to you?) complained to St. Patrick that it was unfair for women to be unable to propose, as in this time, and even to modern day in many places, women had to wait for a man to propose to her. St. Patrick then set up a compromise: women would be permitted to propose one day every seven years. Brighid was not content with this, and an argument ensued. Eventually, both came to the agreement that women would be allowed to pop the question once every four years, on Leap Day. Brighid then proposed to Patrick, who refused, but gave her a kiss and lovely dress in consolation. Since then, this legend has come to imply that any marriage where one was proposed to on Leap Day will be happy and lasting. However, this is untrue in Greece, where to be married in a Leap Year is actually considered unlucky. In Denmark, it is a standing tradition that any woman whose proposal is turned down on Leap Day must be compensated by the man with a yearly gift of gloves, for 12 years. Similarly, in Finland, if a man turns down a woman, he must provide her with the fabric for a new skirt.