The love of your life
is knelt down on bended knee, bearing a shimmering ring in one hand and asking
for your hand in marriage with the other.
She looks up from
bended knee to her adoring man, waiting patiently for his answer to HER
proposal.
That’s right,
according to the old Irish tradition; the roles of marriage proposal would be
switched specifically for Leap Year
on February 29th.
For Real!
Ladies, we've come a long
way! Now days, It wouldn't be surprising if the woman would propose marriage on
any given day of the year. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, so
to speak.
I'm sure most
understand that Leap Year happens
every 4 years where an extra day is added in February to balance out the Gregorian
calendar. Since I'm not an astronomical or calendar expert, I'll just
insert a link here if you want to sink your teeth into more of the facts.
For now, let’s get back
to the Irish and the legend that St. Brigid of Kildare who had supposedly felt
it was taking the 'marriage
dodging' gentlemen a little too long to propose.
The complaint was
brought to St. Patrick and according to ancient Irish history; St. Patrick proclaims that women could propose on one day in February during the leap year.
Hurray for the Irish!
Progressive thinking women had something they could mark on their calendar. A
day slotted just for them to snatch up the man of their dreams.
Unfortunately, that
chance would only happen every FOUR
years!!
Following the Irish
proclamation, a law allegedly was passed in 1288 by the Scots stating that women
were allowed to propose marriage only in a Leap
Year.
If the lucky guy felt NOT so lucky about wedded bliss and
wasn't quite ready for his BETTER half,
then he would have to pay a fine for declining.
Payment was usually a
kiss, a pair of gloves or a silk gown.
The poor love-seeking dame
would walk away with a consolation pity prize for being rejected. A risk
for anyone proposing marriage!
So SINGLE gals, if you
haven't already planned to propose today on this 2016 Leap Year, no worries you have another 4 years to prepare for
it!
Marriage willing,
the man of honor will surely accept!
It’d be quite
heartbreaking for any brave lady to
be turned away with a pitiful pair of gloves.
Happy Leap Year and here's hoping the answer is "yes!"
This is another featured installment of ”Holy Guacamole, Is That For Real?" Until next month's edition, expect the unexpected!
I had never heard of this before when I started seeing it talked about last week on network television :-) I'm assertive. If I wanted to propose I think I would do it any day of the year :-)
ReplyDeleteI just recently heard of this too, Carla! I guess there's a movie about it, which I have not seen and you're right I think these days gals wouldn't be shy to propose any day.
DeleteWhat an interesting story! I think I shall institute the 'silk gown as consolation prize protocol' in my house!!!
ReplyDeleteHaha, yep a silk gown would soften the blow of rejection!
DeleteAh I had no idea about the background to this story. Just yesterday an Australian blogger shared that her daughter had proposed to her boyfriend (who seems to have an Irish heritage) and it made me smile!
ReplyDeleteOhh that's cool that you read about a young lady actually proposing yesterday. That makes me smile too. Goodness, I hope the young man accepted!! Thanks for sharing Corinne.
Delete