What is that thing about when it is said about women are ok to propose to men on a leap year?
Where did it come from?
Has anyone actually done it?
2006-09-08 01:39:51 · 7 answers · asked by femalefromuk19 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
It is what we Americans call Sadie Hawkins day. Back in the day in Ireland women weren't allowed to propose to men and guys could string them along forever. To remedy this they gave the girls one day to get their guy to say yes. According to wikipedia (and this meshes with my Irish family traditions so I think it is accurate)
" Saint Patrick, having driven the snakes out of the bogs was walking along the shores of Lough Neagh, when he was accosted by Saint Bridget in tears, and was told that a mutiny had broken out in the nunnery over which she presided, the ladies claiming the right of proposing for marriage.
Saint Patrick said he would concede them the right every seventh year, when Saint Bridget threw her arms round his neck, and exclaimed, "Arrah, Pathrick, jewel, I daurn't go back to the girls wid such a proposal. Make it one year in four." Saint Patrick replied, "Bridget, acushla, squeeze me that way again, an' I'll give ye leap-year, the longest of the lot." Saint Bridget, upon this, popped the question to St Patrick himself, who, of course, could not marry: so he patched up the difficulty as best he could with a kiss and a silk gown.[1]
According to a 1288 law by Queen Margaret of Scotland (also known as the Maid of Norway because she never set foot in Scotland), fines were levied if the proposal was refused by the man; compensation ranged from a kiss to a silk gown to soften the blow. Because men felt that put them at too great a risk, the tradition was in some places tightened to restricting female proposals to 29 February. Others regard this as an urban legend.[2]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadie_Hawkins_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_year#Marriage_proposal
2006-09-08 01:58:32 · answer #1 · answered by emp04 5 · 10⤊ 0⤋
don't know where and when it starts, but, I heard that if the propose was rejected by the man, the man has to buy the girl some fabric/set of cloth etc to cover the so called "embarrassment". Which I think we should all propose in the leap year to get out wardrobe updated.
2006-09-08 01:47:28 · answer #2 · answered by Pink 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
women can propose on leap days, ie February the 29th
2006-09-08 15:21:33 · answer #3 · answered by Conservative 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its supposed to be good luck if a woman proposes on 29th february and bad luck if a woman proposes any other time. i think its just an old myth but it does sound quite romantic.
2006-09-08 06:11:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey I am a leapyear baby. I have never heard of anything about this. ( frowning...) I believe if you love someone to want to spend you life with him, there should be superstition that should hold you back from your future with love. God Bless! (smiling...)
2006-09-08 01:43:57 · answer #5 · answered by lulu 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've heard of it too. I don't know where it came from. I don't know if anyone's done it. If you'r thinking about it tho, go for it!!!
2006-09-08 01:43:04 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is the 21st century, you can propose anytime you like.
2006-09-08 01:43:27 · answer #7 · answered by sarah071267 5 · 1⤊ 7⤋