“Thirty days hath September; April, June and November; All the rest have thirty one; except in leap year one in four when February has one day more”


So goes the Leap Year rhyme and 2020 is such a year with 366 days and that special day of February 29th has one particular time-honored tradition that still survives to this day. The old Irish tradition decrees that this is the one day that women can take matters into their own hands and get down on one knee. This tradition is somewhat outdated as many women propose nowadays and regularly do so. Marriage in Ireland in 2020 now takes many modern forms but historically in Ireland this was the only day for women to get down on one knee.

It is said that the tradition began back in the time of 5th century Ireland when Saint Brigid of Kildare complained to Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, that women had to wait much too long for men to propose. The story goes that Saint Patrick then made a decree that the one day in February during the leap year would be the date that women could propose. It is said that Saint Brigid then proposed to him but he declined her offer - there are conflicting theories about this but the story has gone down in history and lasted through the centuries. The legend goes that if the proposal was rejected then the man was expected to buy the woman a gift ranging from a silk gown to a fur coat.

The story continues that back as far as 1288 a law was passed in Scotland where a woman was allowed to propose on the date and that any man who declined would have to be punished in the form of paying a fine! The woman also had to allegedly wear a red petticoat under their skirt to signal that they intended to propose. This tale also extends to European societies where if a man rejected a leap year proposal then he would gift the woman he rejected 12 pairs of gloves so that she could hide the apparent ‘shame’ of her proposal being rejected. In some countries February 29th is known as Bachelors Day.

Irish Claddagh Rings - the perfect engagement ring for men and women

The 2010 film Leap Year, featuring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, shot in counties Wicklow, Mayo and Galway revived the tradition of leap year proposals, as did proposals to their men by Pink and Britney Spears, but some critics argue that the tradition is anti-feminist and should be abolished. In an age of equality for women and also same-sex marriages, this tradition is seen as a little antiquated but the day still gets publicity all around the world for women dropping to one knee and asking the big question. No matter what the differing views, what was known as ‘The Ladies’ Privilege’ is likely to still carry on and very much feature in this leap year 2020 and what better to accompany the proposal that has gone down through the centuries as an Irish tradition than a beautiful Claddagh ring!