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Leap Year, February 29th, is when women can ask men to marry them

Old Irish tradition still holds and dates back to time of Saint Patrick

By
JAMES O'SHEA,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Thursday, February 23, 2012, 7:33 AM
Updated Thursday, February 23, 2012, 11:46 AM

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A woman can ask a man to marry her on that one day at the end of February
A woman can ask a man to marry her on that one day at the end of February
Photo by my-weddinginsurance.co.uk


2012 is also a leap year and inquiring minds want to know if the old Irish tradition that a woman can ask a man to marry her on that one day at the end of February is true.

Yes, actually.

The  Amy Adams movie called 'Leap Year' dealt with a woman who asked a man to marry her on February 29th in a leap year. But where does this tradition come from and is there any truth to the movie's premise?

Yes, actually. It is that said the tradition began in 5th century Ireland when St. Bridget bitterly complained to St. Patrick that women had to wait far too long for men to propose.

The legend says that St. Patrick decreed the women could propose on this one day in February during the leap year. I'm sure the women were thrilled.

The tradition was then taken to Scotland by Irish monks. Back in 1288, the Scots passed a law that allowed women to propose marriage to the man of their dreams in a Leap Year. The law also stated that any man who declined the proposal in a leap year would have to pay a fine. The fine could range from a kiss to payment for a silk dress or a pair of gloves.

There is also precedent in English law. February 29th was ignored and had no legal status. People believed that traditions would also have no status on that day and that it was possible to have women propose thereby altering an unfair custom that only let men propose marriage.

In the United States, some people refer to February 29th as Sadie Hawkins Day with women allegedly having the right the right to run after unmarried men to propose.

Sadie Hawkins was a female character in the Al Capp comic strip Li'l Abner.

​
See more: Irish customs , Irish roots , Irish dating ,
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7 Comments

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bromeliads | Feb 29, 2012, 03:30 PM EST
Children who are born on a leap year have a confusing time with birthday parties. Watched Rachel Ray on TV, that's why the young lady thought it appropriate to ask her boyfriend for "his hand in marriage." Leap Year!

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MichaelJTully | Feb 27, 2012, 02:37 PM EST
Any man with any sense, should stay behind closed doors during that particular 24hrs, when you see the type of vultures that are out there.

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Sparklet | Feb 23, 2012, 07:45 PM EST
Shouldn't comment before having read entire article! So it may have originated in Ireland, from St Patrick? Must admit, I never heard that before.

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Sparklet | Feb 23, 2012, 07:41 PM EST
Old Irish tradition? Surely old tradition worldwide?

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Murph46 | Feb 23, 2012, 02:48 PM EST
Alas you lass,yuo'll have to pass for you cannot have my a.. For I am in the deep morass That as a marriage does pass

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ciaradexy | Feb 23, 2012, 11:05 AM EST
Why would a man be the head of the house? People are equal.

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CitizenWhy | Feb 23, 2012, 10:48 AM EST
They are more likely to ask men to get out of their way, or join them as partners, married or unmarried, rather than as head of the house.

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