Leap Year 2012

Tradition says that St Bridget struck a deal with St Patrick (who converted Ireland from paganism to Catholicism in the 5th century of this common era.). The deal was to allow women to propose to the men on the Leap Year Day as a sort of balance since the day only happens once every 4 years.

Also apparently, it was a leap year that year, so St Bridget actually got up the courage and proposed to St Patrick. Unfortunately he refused her. But he did pay a small penalty. He gave her a kiss and a beautiful silk gown instead.

In many places this day is often called Bachelors day since if the men refused a woman's proposal, they were required to pay a penalty for refusing. In the upper classes of society in Europe, the penalty for the men was usually to purchase12 pairs of gloves for the lady they refused. She would wear these since she didn't get any engagement ring.

While this tradition may have started in Ireland, it has spread throughout Europe and other english speaking countries. But I never heard of it happening in New Zealand.

Image Source - Time and Date

A gorgeous movie - filmed almost entirely on location in Ireland. This is about an American woman (Anna) who has been dating her boyfriend for several years and is waiting for him to propose. When he flies off to Dublin, Ireland leaving her with just a pair of earrings, she decides to buck tradition and go and propose to him herself. Her father told her that it was an Irish tradition for women to propose on February 29th.

While flying to Ireland the plane is diverted to Wales. Anna attempts to find a ferry boat to Dublin but ends up in Dingle. Anna eventually arrives at a local restaurant and inn owned by a surly man named Declan. Eventually Declan agrees to drive her to Dublin. They have a number of escapades and adventures along the way, such as losing the car into the river, having to hike a while to find a train and having to pretend to be married just to get a bed for the night. When she finally gets to Dublin, Anna locates her boyfriend, Jeremy, who does finally propose - but that's when Anna discovers that she is no longer sure about him.

I really enjoyed watching this movie. Since it is filmed in Ireland, the countryside was real and brought back memories of New Zealand. The only major nit pick I had, was that this movie is supposed to be occurring in February. So how come there is no snow on the ground? February is still winter time and in the last few years, Europe, UK and Ireland have all been getting record cold blasts during the winters.

Image source - Movie Carpet - Leap Year

Model and Actor - Antonio Sabato Jr.

Antonio was born February 29, 1972 in Rome, Italy. He moved to the USA when he was 13 years old. This year - 2012 - he will have his 10th birthday, but he will look as if he is 40 years old.

In this photo Sabato plays a character named Bane Jessup, involved with Prue Halliwell (played by Shannon Doherty) in the TV series CHARMED. This is Episode 31 - second season - which first aired in 2000.

Antonio Sabato Jr - Wikipedia

Image source - Stregheones

There are quite a lot of famous people who were born on February 29.

The year has been 365 days for as long as written history says. But in reality, the year is actually 365 days and 6 hours. So every 4 years we get 24 extra hours and that means one extra day.

If we didnt have this extra day, the calendar would have slowly moved so that summer was eventually in the winter months and winter was in the summer months. If we wanted the calendar to remain the same, those extra 6 hours every year have to be accounted for. One extra day every 4 years does the job perfectly.

Image Source - Rules for Leap Year - Made in 1564 CE

This tradition of the women proposing to the men was recorded for posterity in Scottish law around 1288 with this legislation.

It is statut and ordainit that during the reine of hir maist blissit Magestie, ilk maiden ladye of baith highe and lowe estair shale hae libertie to bespeak ye man she likes; albiet, gif he refuses to tak her till be his wif, he sall be mulcit in ye sume of ane hundredth poundis or less, as is estait mai be, except and alwais gif he can mak it appear that he is betrothit to ane other woman, then he shall be free.

The earliest known written record of this tradition - of the women proposing - was recorded in an Elizabethan stage play (called The Maid's Metamorphosis) first performed in 1600 CE - a Leap year of course. The lines went as follows.

Master be contented, this is leape yeare,
Women weare breetches, petticoats are deare.

However there is also anecdotal evidence that Geoffrey Chaucer may have mentioned this tradition in his famous book - Canterbury Tales - published some 200 years earlier - with these words.

In Leap Year they have power to chuse
The men no charter to refuse

Source - Historical Urban Legends

Image Source - Royalty Free Image