It’s a tradition that dates back hundreds of years- on February 29th each year, women get down on one knee and propose to men. Traditionally ladies may propose marriage only on leap years, a chance that comes around once every 1461 days. This unique opportunity goes all the way back to a law by Queen Margaret of Scotland who even suggested compensation for any rebuttals to the tune of one silk gown! If you have Finish or Danish roots and your chap refuses, you should be given the fabrics for a skirt or 12 pairs of gloves.
On a rather modern twist of the tradition, women across the UK have been ordering personalised cards with a leap day proposal inside. “We saw the first personalised card used as a proposal planned for leap day coming through the system and stepped in to offer a limo to deliver that one for the 29th. Since then we’ve seen a fair number every day, although we’ll have to just seal those with a kiss and send them off with the postie!” Said Jennie Rutter, head of product at TheDogsDoodahs.com
If you’re planning on popping the question to your chap this year, make sure it’s all about him. Whilst many girls have planned the scene since they met their first sweetheart, his ideal proposal might be a little different. Think about the places that mean the most to him as a chap, a sports ground, venue or holiday spot perhaps. Of course, this year the 29th falls on a Wednesday, when a lot of us will be at work. Why not borrow that dream-car he had posters of when you met him, rather than the standard horse and carriage? That should make for an impressive YouTube update!
However you ask those special few words this leap year, remember, the 29th is all about you being in control and seizing the day. If you don’t get the answer you’re hoping for, demand those gloves!
