Ladies, Take the Leap!

Counting down the days

February 29 is a date that usually occurs every four years, and is called leap day. This day is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure, because the earth does not orbit around the sun in precisely 365 days. The Gregorian calendar is a modification of the Julian Calendar first used by the Romans.

Persons born on leap day, February 29, are called "leaplings" or "leapers." However fun it may be to rib them for enjoying 75 percent fewer birthdays than the rest of us over the course of their lives, they do have the special privilege, between leap years, of celebrating their nativity a full day earlier if they so choose.

Leap Year has been the traditional time that women can propose marriage.

Interesting facts about leap years

In many of today's cultures, it is okay for a woman to propose marriage to a man. And if she does it on a leap year’s day, the funnier and luckier the moment will be.

In Denmark, the tradition is that women may propose on the bissextile leap day, February 24, and that refusal must be compensated with 12 pairs of gloves.

In Finland, the tradition is that if a man refuses a woman's proposal on leap day, he should buy her the fabrics for a skirt.

Superstitions

In Scotland, it is thought unlucky to be born on a leap year’s day.

In Greece, marriage in a leap year is considered unlucky. One in five engaged couples in Greece will plan to avoid getting married in a leap year.

For the Romantics

The origin of this romantic tradition is long forgotten and steeped in legend.

Everybody thinks it’s an Irish tradition and it is but it all actually began in Scotland. While it has been claimed that the tradition was initiated by Saint Patrick or Brigid of Kildare in 5th century Ireland, this is dubious, as the tradition has not been attested before the 19th century. Supposedly, a 1288 law by Queen Margaret of Scotland required that fines be levied if a marriage proposal was refused by the man; compensation ranged from a kiss to £1 to a silk gown, in order to soften the blow. In some places, the tradition was tightened to restricting female proposals to the modern leap day, February 29, or to the medieval (bissextile) leap day, February 24.

The Irish legend says that a nun by the name of St. Bridget petitioned St. Patrick on behalf of all women in that they have a more active role in choosing a husband. As a result of this request, women were allowed to propose to men once every four years. For more fascinating facts and information about England, Scotland and Wales (Britain), in a way that is easy to read and to understand for people of all ages and cultures, please visit http://www.projectbritain.com/ and get informed and amused at the legends and traditions of the past.

And perhaps the tradition can also be dated back to the medieval ages with this quote attributed to Chaucer, published in the Collectanea by Vincent Lean (1905);

In Leap Year they have power to chuse

The men no charter to refuse

Women looking to take advantage of their opportunity to pitch on February 29th should also take notes from Amy Adams in the romantic comedy Leap Year, the fierce American who trying to propose on her boyfriend on leap year, ends finding her real and long lasting love in beautiful Ireland.

The deal

 Leap Year Babies Stay Free offers a choice of one free night (with a second person) at Juniper Springs Resort, the Village Lodge, Tamarack Lodge or Mammoth Mountain Inn on their birthday. Reservations are required, and valid ID showing your birth date must be shown at check-in.

When: The offer is good for Feb. 29 only.

If you plan to go skiing or boarding, an adult lift ticket will cost $89.

Contact: Mammoth Mountain ski resort, (800) 626-6684

Ladies, what do you think about taking the initiave this time? Are you up to it?