It’s Leap Year 2016 and that means that Leap Day, which falls on February 29th, is traditionally a day when women can propose to men!
While society has moved on with the legalization of same sex marriage and many women now propose to men throughout the year, the Leap Year tradition is still one that has endured through the ages.
Since Leap Years were first introduced by Julius Caesar over 2000 years ago, Leap Day, which falls on February 29th, has been a day of traditions and superstitions and folklore. A Leap Day is an extra, intercalary day, added to the shortest month of the year, which is February.
The last leap day was February 29th, 2012 and this year, 2016, there is another leap year. Leap years are added to keep the modern Gregorian calendar aligned with the way the Earth revolves around the sun. It takes the Earth exactly 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 45 seconds to circle around the sun and this is called a tropical year. As the Gregorian calendar only has 365 days a year, if a leap day wasn’t added on February 29th every four years, almost 6 hours would be lost from the calendar every year.
According to an old Irish legend,
St. Brigid and
St. Patrick struck a deal in Ireland back in the 5th century to allow women to propose to men every four years. While women regularly now propose to men nowadays throughout the year, the premise behind it back then was to balance up relationships and the traditional roles of men and women in a similar way that the leap year is used to balance up the calendar. St. Brigid had been unhappy that women had to wait far too long for men to propose! This was taken to Scotland and in 1288 a law was actually passed to allow a woman to propose marriage to a man on that day and any man that refused would have to pay a fine!
Leap Day is also known as ‘Bachelors Day’. According to tradition, if a man was proposed by a woman to on this day and refused to accept the proposal, he was expected to pay her a penalty such as money or clothing such as a dress! In some countries, the tradition goes that if a man refuses a proposal, he must buy a woman 12 pairs of gloves! The intention is that she could then wear the gloves to hide the fact that she did not have an engagement ring, following the failed proposal!
If you are prepared to get down on one knee and propose to your man this Leap Day, why not present him with a beautiful Claddagh Ring to mark this nerve wracking occasion and help him to make up his mind?
There are many different types of Gents
Claddagh Rings available in silver, gold or white gold to suit a wide range of budgets, with the Claddagh set in to the ring for a more contemporary look, or the classic plain Claddagh. The rings are also available with embellishments in the band and a precious jewel can be included.
Ireland’s famous Claddagh Ring, which is famous the world over, was originally made in the tiny fishing village of Claddagh in Co. Galway reportedly by a 17th century man named Richard Joyce who was a talented silversmith, goldsmith and metalworker. The heart in the design represents love; the hands symbolize friendship and the crown signifies loyalty. These are a beautiful set of messages with which to propose.
For those searching for a traditional option, the
Gents Traditional White Gold Claddagh Ring is a romantic choice. It is available in solid 10k or 14k white gold and has a height of 14mm and a width of 3mm and showcases the best of Irish craftsmanship and culture.
Good luck this Leap Day if you are planning to propose. Don’t miss the opportunity as it won’t come around again for four more years. Jump aboard this age-old tradition and pop that question!