Leap year is looming in 2020 and the question is – is leaping into love a good idea?
And where did this all start?
Let’s go back to the history
The tradition is thought to date back to as early as the 5th century, when according to history, an Irish nun called St Bridget whinged to St Patrick that women had to wait too long for their suitors to propose. So, they struck a deal. St Patrick declared this one day in February; occurring once every four years (29th February), is when women were allowed to propose. And according to tradition, women either have to wear breeches or a scarlet petticoat to pop the question.
Who wants a Glove?
Additionally, tradition dictated that if a gentleman refused a woman’s proposal, that he should pay a penalty. This could take form in either a new gown, money, or 12 pairs of gloves! The thinking behind the gloves was that the woman could then wear them to hide her embarrassment as not having an engagement ring.
Here are some great reasons why you should propose to your partner next leap year
· You’re in good company. Zsa Zsa Gabor apparently proposed to all nine of her husbands – and it worked for her. Or did it? (Read laughing emoji).
· Life’s too short. Skip dropping hints by looking a bit longer into the jewellery stores window, leaving wedding and exotic destination magazines lying around and doing a Netflix marathon on The Ultimate Rom-Com. Seriously, 3 Series and 47 episodes later, you don’t think this might irritate the romance out of him and see him hiding in the pub?
· Given that multitasking is not one of men’s’ stronger power, just a push and a shove in the right direction will help alleviate his inadequacy.
· Why wait another four years? The time is ripe! All you need is love.
· Tradition is over-rated. Think back when university education was forbidden for women. They also had no rights to apply for divorce and this kind of ‘disobedience’ was punished with a public whipping. It’s time to wield you power ladies!
· It’s an excuse for a party, unless National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day is a biggy for you on March 1, there’s not a lot coming up to get excited about for a couple of months. Champagne time!
HINT:
‘But I’ll never know if he was ever going to do it…’ Sure, because your boyfriend is totally going to legally commit himself to you for the rest of his life because he couldn’t think of a polite way to say no. So perhaps re-evaluate your relationship if this is the case.
Random Facts about Leap Years
· According to various sources, leap days are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth’s revolutions around the Sun. Because a complete orbit around the sun takes slightly longer than 365 days – 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds longer, to be precise.
· Julius Caesar introduced the first leap year around 46 B.C. But Pope Gregory XIII fine-tuned things around 1,500 years later. He declared that a year that is divisible by 100, but not by 400, is not a leap year.
· People born on Leap Day are called ‘leaplings’. The chance of being born on a leap day is 1,461 to 1.
· Lord Byron was born on a Leap Day. So was the rapper Ja Rule.
· If you’re on a fixed annual wage, you’re basically working for free on February 29. Joy.
So petticoats and breeches up – go on and pop the question! Let us celebrate St Bridgits brave notion back then in the 5th century- it is time to leap and pursue.
#leapyear #leapday #LeapAndPursue #LoveIsAllYouNeed #BeMine #valentines
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