Leap Year

Did you notice it? I refer to another leap year day coming and going away. You would think that something that happens every four years would garner more notice. But this is the modern age where cell phone apps, not human cognition, rule the world. Traditions, like those that are associated with leap year, are much less often remembered. Julius Caesar is the guy who started leap year almost 2000 years ago. If you paid attention in science class you know that leap days are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth's revolutions around the Sun. But forget that because I want to mention some of the traditions of leap year day that you probably missed.

One tradition is that ladies propose marriage to men on leap year day. That may also explain why so many men are hiding on February 29th.  According to an old Irish legend St. Brigid struck a deal with St. Patrick to allow women to propose to men one time every four years. This is believed to have been introduced to balance the traditional roles of men and women. In some places, leap day has been known as “Bachelors’ Day” because of this. A man was expected to pay a penalty, such as a gown or money, if he refused a marriage proposal from a woman on Leap Day. I didn't get a proposal again this leap year day. That shows that women are still the smarter sex.

Another leap year day tradition is that people born on February 29 are all invited to join 'The Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies'. Too bad for me that I wasn't born on leap day because I surely will never get into any Honor Society any other way than that. I probably belong in a Dishonor Society, but never mind that.  I read that the Guinness Book of Records says that there is a family that produced three consecutive generations born on February 29. That family should buy lottery tickets.

Another leap day tradition says that being born on leap day is bad news. In Scotland, it used to be considered unlucky for someone to be born on leap day, similar to the belief that Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day by many. Also, the Greeks consider it unlucky for couples to marry during a leap year, and especially on leap day.  But then, Greece has been losing steadily since Alexander the Great passed on. I doubt Greece needs to blame a day for its steady decline

Anyway, may you be around for the next leap year and for many others thereafter.