The history, lore, and not-so-much-true facts about Leap Year!!!



<<< Leap Year. The Right Side of the Law” Illustrator: Ellay [?]; the Philco Publishing Co., Holborn Place, London WC; Series 4030 Postmark 1908 Cards for Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Christmas, and even Leap Year appear with legal themes. The Leap Year card seems to reference an old-fashioned bit of folklore that deemed it appropriate for women to propose to men on February 29.>>>
According to tradition, in fifth-century Ireland,
Bridget of Kildare convinced St. Patrick that since Leap Year Day existed to
fix a problem in the calendar, it could also be used to fix an old and unjust
custom that only let men propose marriage.
>>>Saint Brigit of Kildare or Brigid of Ireland (c. 451 – 525) is one of Ireland's patron saints, along with Patrick and Columba. Irish hagiography makes her an early Irish Christian nun, abbess, and founder of several monasteries of nuns, including that of Kildare in Ireland, which was famous and was revered<<<
A supposed law in 1288 by Queen
Margaret of Scotland required fines be levied if a marriage proposal was
refused by the man; compensation was deemed to be a pair of leather gloves, a
single , £1, and a kiss. Women
looking to take advantage of the opportunity to propose were expected to wear a
scarlet petticoat—to give men the opportunity to
run the other way.
>>>But is Queen M's Leap Year Proposal Law real? Read more here.<<<
Queen Victoria sanctioned the “right” of women to propose
marriage to a man, or at least ask him to dance. If the man declined to marry,
there was at least a consolation prize—he was supposed to provide a silk dress
and a kiss on the cheek.
>>>An illustration from 1840 titled 'Leap Year' shows Queen Victoria proposing to Prince Albert at Windsor Castle in 1839<<<
In Finland,
if a man refuses a woman's Leap Year Day proposal, he should buy her the
fabrics for a skirt.
Today Anthony, Texas is known as
the Leap Year Capital of the World. The festival draws about a thousand
tourists for its once-in-four-years celebration, including as many as seventy
Leap Year Day babies plus friends, family and “leapophiles” for a weekend-long
festival featuring a golf tournament, nature hike, a 5K run, a barbecue at a
local pecan farm, wine tasting, a chuck wagon breakfast, balloon rides, and a
parade.
Find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leapyearcapital/
In celebration of Gina's 11th release, she is giving away digital copies of SIX LITTLE SUNFLOWERS to three commenters during the Release Party this week. Let us know in the comment you want to be entered and leave your email address so we know you aren't a troll (such as LovesWildfires (at) gmail dot com).
SIX LITTLE SUNFLOWERS is the 9th release in Forget Me Not Romances American State Flower series, sweet romances based around state flowers. Felicie is a skeptic when it comes to Leap Year traditions! What do you think about a woman proposing marriage to a man?
DRAWING DEADLINE is MARCH 31, 2016, 5 PM CST

Congratulations on your newest release. I LOVED reading all the fun facts about leap year and the marriage proposals. The red petticoat so men knew to run the other way! Love it! I'd like an entry, please.
ReplyDeleteCagould15(at)yahoo(dot)com
Carrie, I think a red petticoat warning would be something fun to write about!
DeleteI would so love to read this! I'm not a robot:). amyfields417@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteYay, Amy! Thanks for not being a robot.
DeleteHee hee . . . this is so much fun and so interesting.
ReplyDeleteYes, the red petticoat warning would make a great story!