Ladies, it’s your year! I guess you realize by now that this is leap year, which of course means we get an extra day. I can remember this by the old nursery school poem:
Thirty days hath September
April, June and November
All the rest have thirty-one
Except for February alone
Which hath but twenty-eight, in fine
Til leap year gives it twenty-nine!
One of the traditions going back for at least four centuries, is that women get to propose marriage to men during leap year. So don’t be shy – run out there and snag your man!
Unless you are Greek. In that case superstition says it is bad luck to wed during a leap year. But I suppose there’s no harm in getting engaged. Just wait til 2013 to tie the knot.
St. Bridget is rumored to have proposed to St. Patrick in Ireland but I think she had something besides marriage to him in mind. She was probably just campaigning for a little equality – and he was busy with the snakes – so they compromised on the right of women to propose to men in every fourth year. That’s my version anyway.
I used to worry about the babies born on February 29th – known as ‘leaplings’ or ‘leapers’. This was when I was young and enjoyed celebrating my birthday. Now I can definitely see the advantage to 75% fewer of them. That would make me…well…much younger! Now I would settle for a face cream that would give me 75% fewer wrinkles, or a delicious slice of chocolate cake with 75% fewer calories. But I digress.
Some cultures consider leap year to be auspicious and lucky; others see it as a bad omen for crops and animals. The Mayans obviously thought this leap year was going to be particularly bad for us earthlings. And now that I realize that it coincides with Presidential elections, I’m thinking it isn’t all that lucky for us either. It apparently causes a great amount of name calling and back biting and accusations of flipping and flopping and the general lack of manners and civility among the greatest men and women who ask us to vote for them. At least I hope it is the influence of leap year and not a lack of character.
And I hope you will do something extraordinary with your extra day this year. Perhaps you might exercise your right to propose something to the man in your life – even if you are already married. You could invite him to dinner, dancing, star gazing, whatever suits your fancy – because it is leap year and that means ladies’ choice!
Writingfeemail's Blog 
Little known fact. Mayans were actually aliens. You didn’t know that, did you? Hah! If the world is going to end, we might as well go proposition the cute butcher don’t you think? I mean, before it’s too late.
And…if he’s a butcher, you can get the best cuts of meat for dinner. LOL.
I did not know the Mayans were aliens, but if that is the case, perhaps their prediction for 2012 is for the day they will return to earth. Hmmm. Now it makes sense. Thanks Linda.
Perhaps I will propose something to Motor Man….. probably will involve chauffeuring me somewhere to take blog pictures!
By the way, I’ve nominated you for a blog award: see tomorrow’s post!
There’s my ‘something special’ for leap day – an award from you. Thanks!
I will take your advice and “LEAP”!!!!
Have a happy and good leap yourself!!!
Mais bien sur! And you must report back on your adventure. I know whatever you do will be with style!
Hi,
I didn’t know us Lady’s could propose on a leap day, the possibility’s are endless. 😀
I wonder if anyone will take up the challenge, it is the 29th today here in OZ, I wonder if there is any unusual proposals going on somewhere. 😀
We can only hope! I may have to think of something to propose to my husband. Will most likely not blog about that. LOL.
I didn’t realize the significance of Leap Year. I should have started looking for a man to snag months ago! I think it’s too late to find someone to propose to by tomorrow. Sigh. Story of my life.
I think it applies toward the entire year, so don’t throw in the towel just yet. Somehow I feel like you would have no problem snagging a husband if you wanted one.
Happy Leap Year Day! You have a delightful way of making me learn history. Thanks so much. I’m really amazed that we still have a leap year. I guess that’s one tradition that not even the hoity-toity folks can get rid of for now… 😉
The real history of it – with that sneaky 365 1/4 turn every year – just catches up with us if we don’t recognize the extra day every four years. But the traditions and myths are fun aren’t they? Glad you liked this one.
Darn. I feel such a slackard that I didn’t think ahead to plan some kind of appropriate celebration. At least it gives me one more day to get ready for March, during which I plan to do my own version of NaNoWriMo, since I NEVER have November available for concentrated projects.
That’s perfect Lee. You can use the day to pre-plot. I can’t wait to hear how it works out for you. Good luck!
Happy Leap Year and thanks for the quick history lesson! Now I have to go propose to my husband, I hope he says yes or I’ll be in big trouble 🙂
Ashley
That’s not a chance he won’t happily accept, especially after you guys survived the roofing project. I think you need an extra day just to celebrate – champagne on the roof top?
Ah, yes, the Sadie Hawkins Dance. A boy in my class was a Leaper. He may have only been 10 when I was 40, but he looked older. 🙂
That sneaky old leap year didn’t take that into consideration. Father Time keeps score one way or another. Sigh.
This was a great read first thing in the morning! Leave it to you! I hope you have a delightful leap year also my friend. As for the politicians i would say it’s just in their natures unfortunately. . I jackass is a jackass after all, no matter what party they are part of.. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed this and hope your year turns out wonderful as well.
Happy Leap Day Renee!
Thanks for the reminder it was Leap Year. I wouldn’t even have noticed if it weren’t for you!
~d.
Happy Leap Day to you too Dianna. Glad I could keep you rooted in February before it gets away from us. LOL.
This leap year, do I get to propose to another man, even if I am already married??????
Well, that would certainly be interesting. Newt would approve – current husband may not.
You read my mind, Elyse.
Ooh, I love this idea! I propose to my husband that he makes me dinner, draws me a bath, then entertains the kids the rest of the evening. I wish this day came every year!
That’s a perfect proposal Darla, we get to call the husband shots for the rest of the year. Yeah!
My Grandpa was a leap year baby and he had a twisted luck and lovely life.
Nice writing.
Nice to hear from someone with leap year knowledge first hand. Good for Grandpa!
Renee, you made lots of ladies happy with this post of yours. 🙂 Great …. It was fun to read this post. I hope you had a wonderful leap day… 🙂
Did you get a proposal Arindam? I bet that was where you were.
Thanks for the info on leap year. I wasn’t aware of these traditions. Well, at this point, I’ve missed my chance to do anything amazing on Feb 29, but if the whole year is available to me, I’ll have to see what lovely ideas I can come up with to mark the leap event! ~ Sheila
I’m sure you will think of something lovely and worthwhile. Tell us about it if you can. Tehehe.
Love that next to last paragraph! Leap onward.
I had never seen an avid blogger like you before. Great work!