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Today is February 29th, a day that only comes once every four years. But why and what are the European traditions and superstitions surrounding this special day?
advertisementLike it or not, 2024 is a leap year. So today is not the start of a new month.
In case you need a cheeky refresher on why there’s one extra day in February today. Leap years occur every four years.
The reason we have leap years is because the length of the Earth’s revolution is not exactly 365 days, resulting in what is called “drift.”
In fact, it takes our planet approximately 365.2422 days to orbit the sun once. This means that a typical 365-day year ends one-fourth of a day short of reaching full orbit. So a leap year essentially ensures that the calendar aligns with the Earth’s orbit and coincides with the equinoxes and solstices.
You may or may not know this, but February 29th has a lot of superstitions and traditions in Europe, most of which are associated with love and bad luck.
Here, we will briefly explain European superstitions around February 29th.
Greece: Don’t do that!
In Greek folklore, there is a superstition that if you get engaged or married during a leap year, your marriage will be cursed and will eventually lead to divorce or the untimely death of your partner. It’s lovely and cheerful from the beginning. As if that wasn’t enough, tradition dictates that those who get divorced in a leap year will not be able to find happiness for the rest of their lives.
Ireland: Women’s Privileges
Contrary to the Greek and Ukrainian models is Ireland’s custom of allowing women to propose to men on leap years. This dates back to her fifth century. At this time, St. Brigid of Kildare thought that women were waiting too long for marriage proposals, and agreed with St. Patrick that women could also propose marriage. Since then, every four years women were encouraged to get down on one knee and ask their partner to marry them. This is known as Ladies Privilege and the 29th is also known as Bachelor’s Day and is a potentially expensive day. In fact, if a marriage proposal is rejected, it is traditional for the woman to receive a compensatory gift, usually a silk gown.
Scotland: historic fines
Irish monks brought the tradition of women’s privileges to Scotland and added further details. When proposing, a woman must wear a red petticoat. Later, in 1288, Queen Margaret of Scotland passed a law requiring compensation for refusing to take a leap day, either a fine or, as in Ireland, the gift of a silk dress.
Denmark: If you don’t have love, wear gloves
Similar to Irish and Scottish men, if a Danish man turns down a woman’s marriage proposal, he must give her 12 pairs of gloves to hide the fact that he is not wearing an engagement ring.
Germany: cold year
Some Germans believe that the entire leap year is unlucky. spoil sports. Their proverb is “Schaltjahr gleich Kaltjahr” which means “a leap year means a cold year”. However, later in the year, in the German state of Rhineland, on the eve of May 1st, there is a tradition for men to decorate birch trees with paper ribbons as a sign of their love for their partners, and in leap years this is reversed. Masu. Women were invited as well.
Scotland (again): Liebling’s Justice
In Scottish culture, people born on February 29th are said to be unlucky and are called “Leaplings”. Sure, they don’t get to celebrate many birthdays, but what’s worse is that Scottish tradition says that jumpers are doomed to experience “immeasurable suffering” for the rest of their lives, giving them even more weight. I’m adding it. They also believe that a leap year is a year of fortune for farmers, as the saying goes, “A leap year was never a good sheep year.”
Italy: Let’s have fun
In the northern Italian region of Reggio Emilia, leap years are commonly known as “l’ann d’la baleina,” or “year of the whale.” The idea behind this is that whales only give birth in leap years. The whale is completed.
England: Bottom up!
In 1928, bartender Harry Craddock was working as a bartender at London’s famous Savoy Hotel. It is said that he invented a drink to celebrate Leap Year. Ingredients included gin, sweet vermouth, lemon juice, and Grand Marnier. So it’s basically an excuse to get beat up on the extra days in February. Believe in English…
France: a unique newspaper
France has a special satirical newspaper published every four years on February 29th. Titled ‘La Bougie du Sapeur’, it has been running since 1980 and is still very popular. In fact, it usually sells out, outselling other national newspapers. It was so popular that since 2016, La Bousie du Sapeur has also been sold in Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Canada. This newspaper, which translates as “Sapper’s Candle,” is derived from a French cartoon character called Camembert, created by George Colomb in 1896. An Army soldier (or “engineer”), Camembert was born on February 29th and joined the army when he celebrated his fourth birthday. So, if you get your hands on a copy – the 12th edition is on sale today – these bad guys are a collector’s item – and also a fun read.
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