Today is Leap Day, when February gains an extra day to help balance the Gregorian calendar. Leap Year dates back to approximately 45BC when Julius Caesar made the law in Rome and the areas he governed.
Around the world, mostly in European countries, several traditions mark the day. We’ve highlighted some below:
In Ireland and Britain: Women can propose to men. Actually, a woman can proposed marriage to a man anytime she’d like, but proposing on Leap Day is supposed to lucky. Marrying on the 29th is considered bad luck though. If the man turns down the proposal, he is expected to drop some cash on expensive gifts. One such traditional gift was 12 pairs of gloves, so the woman could keep her ring-less hands covered.
In the United States: You can celebrate Leap Day with people born on the date, also know as leaplings. There’s an annual Leap Year Festival in Anthony, TX where leaplings can celebrate their special status with others sharing the same birthday. There are approximately 5 million people with a Leap Day birthday. They are all invited to join The Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies.
Some famous leaplings include:
- Actors: Joel Kim Booster, Dennis Farina, Alex Rocco, Antonio Sabato Jr, Dinah Shore, Jessie T Usher,
- Musicians: Chris Connelly, Jimmy Dorsey, Ja Rule, Dave Williams
In Scotland: The day is considered unlucky, kind of a bonus Friday the Thirteenth. They also consider being born on this date to to be an omen.
In Greece: Couples are discouraged from marrying on the Leap Day because it’s considered unlucky.
In Taiwan: married daughters visit their parents and bring pig trotter noodles. This is because in Taiwanese culture, it is believed that older people are more likely to die during Leap Years. The noodle soup is supposed to bring good health.
In Germany: the state of Rhineland-Palatinate specifically, women decorate birch trees on Leap Day with ribbons and place it in front of the house of a boyfriend or someone they have a crush on.
In Las Vegas: If you’re in the neighborhood of Freed’s Bakery (9815 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas) today, you can get a free cupcake! They also have something called an Irish cream pastry jar that sounds and looks amazing.
Enjoy your extra day this year! We’ll see you in 2028!
