It is customary for a woman to propose marriage to a man on a Leap Year Day. It is believed to balance the traditional roles of men and women in a similar way to how Leap Day balances the calendar.
During the Middle Ages, 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment