What is it about leap years that makes people superstitious about marriage? Well here is the skinny from all over the world....

Let's start with the most popular tale...remember the movie Leap Year?

According to legend, St. Brigid, a fifth-century Irish nun, asked St. Patrick the patron saint of Ireland, to grant permission for women to propose marriage after hearing complaints from the single women whose suitors were too shy to propose to them. He initially granted women the right to propose to their suiters only once every seven years, but at Brigid's insistence, he acquiesced proposals every leap day. The folklore says Brigid dropped to one  knee and proposed to Patrick at that instant. He refused, kissed her on her cheek and offered her a silk gown. Not sure how he thought that would make it ok?!?! Long story short, Irish tradition dictates that any man who refuese a proposal, must gift a silk gown to ease her pain.

Let's travel to Scotland....

Queen Margaret-a very single queen btw- enacted a law in 1288 that allowed women to propose on leap-year day. But There was a catch however...a rather peculiar catch-  The proposer had to wear a red petticoat. It was a warning to her intended that she planned to pop the big question. What's odd with this story is that the Queen would have only been 5 years old when she enacted this law...hmmmm. Historians were unable to to find any documentation to this supposed law.

Lastly-Women in Finland are advised to propose only on Feb. 29 -- for good luck. If her boyfriend turns her down, he is required to pay her a "fine": enough fabric to make a skirt. Nowadays, her can just buy her a new skirt!

Certainly many women are proposing to men, leap year or not. I don't think we need a special day...whatever day we or he chooses is the most special day...... What do you think?