Leap Year "Ladies' Law"

This morning I'm looking for something fun to share with you about "Leap Year".

Yes, I know this is a blog for Harter House Supermarket and should be about food, but when I found this bit of information, I really wanted to share it with you.

I know several young maidens who may want to take advantage of this time-honored tradition!


Ladies’ Law in Leap Year
by Taraya




Postcard from 1908, depicting a sneaky female catching herself a man in leap year









Are you a young maiden just wishing your man would finally pop the question? Has the handsome lad down the street caught your fancy, but seems completely oblivious to your pining affections? Not a problem, ladies! Today is leap day, which makes 2012 your lucky year.

American culture was, and still is, a stew of different traditions carried over from the homelands of dozens of cultures. One of these fabulous traditions, stemming from the British Isles, was that of the “ladies’ law” of leap year. This newspaper from February 1888 explains the rules of this female-favoring year:



















It's "ladies' law" in leap year! An 1888 newspaper gives the scoop.

Not only may a woman propose to a man in a leap year, but there’s a bonus for her if he refuses. The same article goes on to explain that any man who turns down a woman seeking marriage in a leap year must compensate her with a new silk dress. Provided, of course, that she show off a little of her scarlet petticoat, just to be sure her intentions are clear.



















A man's penalty for refusing the offer from a gentle lady

Traditionally, the material compensation for a refused proposal varied. In thirteenth-century Scotland, supposedly, the required recompense was anything from £1, to a kiss, to the previously mentioned silk gown. In Denmark, the uncooperative man must present twelve pairs of gloves. And in Finland, the disappointed lady must be given enough fabrics to make a skirt. The risk of receiveing proposals all year long was too great for some men, with such weighty fines demanded of them if they refused. So, in many cultures, the “ladies’ law” was restricted to only one twenty-four hour period: leap day.

As it finishes off, the nineteenth-century column offers one last bit of encouragement:








Take your chance while you can

…And don’t forget to wear your red petticoat!