Leap Day Fun Facts
Leap Day Fun Facts are Here!
Today is Leap Day. Every 4 years we get this extra day. I have to be honest, it doesn’t quite make sense to me, but hey, I’ll go with it. Especially since it means we are running a great sale on Sulky.com!
I also thought it would be fun to share other fun facts about Leap Day. These came from timeanddate.com
Leap Day Customs & Traditions
Leap Day, on February 29, has been a day of traditions, folklore and superstitions ever since Leap Years were first introduced by Julius Caesar over 2000 years ago.
Women Propose to Their Men
According to an old Irish legend, or possibly history, St. Brigid struck a deal with St. Patrick to allow women to propose to men – and not just the other way around – every four years.
This is believed to have been introduced to balance the traditional roles of men and women in a similar way to how leap day balances the calendar.
Gloves Hide Naked Ring Finger
In some places, leap day has been known as “Bachelors’ Day” for the same reason. 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.
In many European countries, especially in the upper classes of society, tradition dictates that any man who refuses a woman’s proposal on February 29 has to buy her 12 pairs of gloves. The intention is that the woman can wear the gloves to hide the embarrassment of not having an engagement ring. During the middle ages, there were laws governing this tradition.
Leap Day Babies World Record
People born on February 29 are all invited to join The Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, there are Leap Day World Record Holders both of a family producing three consecutive generations born on February 29 and of the number of children born on February 29 in the same family.
Unlucky in Love
In Scotland, it used to be considered unlucky for someone to be born on leap day, just as Friday 13th is considered an unlucky day by many. Greeks consider it unlucky for couples to marry during a leap year, and especially on Leap Day.
St. Oswald’s Day
Leap day is also St. Oswald’s Day, named after the archbishop of York, who died on February 29, 992. His memorial is celebrated on February 29 during leap years and on February 28 during common years.
Glove Patterns
Since gloves are a big part of the Leap Day history, here are a couple patterns to make your own Leap Day Gloves!
Here is an easy one.
Here is one from Threads Magazine.
Happy Leap Day and Happy Sewing!
