look before you leap!

I told my friend the other day to remind her girls that "this is the year!!" She didn't seem to know what I was talking about -- even when I said, "they can propose to a man this year." In fact, everyone around the table we were sitting at seemed clueless about what I was talking about, so I began to doubt myself what I was saying.

But now, after ever-so-thorough research, I know it's true. That is, the fable or myth is true, if that's a possible statement. St. Patrick was the beginning, on the British Isles. In the late 4th, early 5th century, St. Bridget, head of the nunnery, went to St. Patrick, then bishop of Ireland, for help. All the sisters were in revolt, demanding the right to propose marriage to reluctant suitors. (Guess nuns could marry in those days.) St. Patrick was sympathetic for these women living in a society where only men could do the asking so he decreed that women be allowed to propose marriage during one year out of four. The "open season on bachelors" took place during Leap Year, and has ever since. (Leap Year occurring every four years in order to keep the calendar year syncronised with the seasonal or astronomical year.)

Apparently Bridget asked St. Patrick to marry her and he gently refused, softening the rejection with a kiss and a silk gown. Thereafter, men were obliged to make some sort of payment for refusing a marriage offer.  This was an unwritten law in the British Isles for many centuries, and in 1228 the Scottish parliament passed legislation imposing a heavy fine on any man refusing a proposal of marriage from a woman.

And where did the term "Leap Year" come from? The every four years that we needed that extra day to catch up.  "Leap Day" actually was completely ignored in financial and legal matters, with anything falling on that extra day dated  Feb. 28th rather than 29th. Therefore that date was "leaped over" as if it did not exist.

Of course things have changed significantly over time, and such things as  April Fool's Day and Leap Year are no longer taken seriously. But it is fun to know the history of such things. And, for my husband's cousin, we certainly won't leap over her birthday this year on the 29th. She's only had about eleven!