Legend Has it, Women Can Ask Men to ‘Take the Leap’ on Leap Day

For guys in a relationship today, Leap Day, is a day that a woman can ask a man to "take the leap". So guys you might be prepared for her to propose to you. That’s right! It is a 5^th century custom where legend has it that St. Bridget, an Irish nun, complained to St. Patrick that women had to wait too long for their suitors to propose to them. After some consideration, St. Patrick relented somewhat and allowed women the opportunity to ask the question every four years on Leap Day.

This allowance by St. Patrick really didn’t become common until some 14 centuries later in the 19^th Century.  Another story regarding women proposing to men on Leap Day goes back to the year 1288. It was then that Queen Margaret of Scotland favored women proposing and if by chance the man refused, he would be subject to a fine by the Scottish Government.

Meanwhile, if a man turns down a proposal in Denmark they are required to give the woman 12 pairs of gloves and the penalty in Finland for men for not accepting a women’s proposal is the purchase of fabric for a new skirt for her.