A leap year gives us an extra day in the year on February 29th. Bringing the total number of days in the year from 365 to 366. This date only occurs once every four years, so it's no surprise that leap years have been the focus of many superstitions and customs all over the world going back centuries.
One of the most famous leap year traditions comes from none other than our own little island and has been recorded in Irish history as being in existence since the 5th century. I am of course speaking of the tradition of a woman being able to go against traditional social norms by making a marriage proposal to a man on the 29th of February. This previously would have been unheard of on any normal day, but on that extra day during a leap year it is not only accepted here in Ireland but there are even rules supporting it.
Legend has it that this tradition originates all the way back during the 5th century when St. Brigid was having an issue with the other women in her nunnery. The nuns had become extremely annoyed that being female meant that women were unable to take control of their own lives and had to wait around for a man to propose. They were so angry over this they were threatening to revolt. So a young St. Brigid left the nunnery in search of St. Patrick. She had heard he was nearby banishing frogs from the local bogs. She soon found him walking the shores of Lough Neagh. There she explained the situation to St. Patrick. She argued it was unfair that so many women had to wait for a man to propose. The men held all the power in deciding when to pop the question and could often delay in their proposal, stringing a woman along. Brigid begged him to rectify the situation by allowing women to propose and let her return to the nunnery with the good news.
However St. Patrick was reluctant to change the socially accepted tradition of only the man proposing marriage. Eventually he was willing to compromise and told St. Brigid that a woman could indeed propose to a man but only during one year, every seven years. St. Brigid flat out refused, knowing the other nuns would not be satisfied with this compromise. A woman would be a spinster before she would have another chance to find herself a potential husband and starting a family if refused the first time. Instead she proposed that it be every four years instead of every seven. St. Patrick then agreed that it may be on one specific day every four years on a leap year.
After Brigid and St. Patrick agreed to the leap year Brigid decided to put it to the test as it was infact the 29th of February and proposed to St. Patrick there and then. St. Patrick who was the young St. Brigid's elder by many decades and had devoted his life to God could not accept her proposal, so instead he apologised with a kiss on the cheek and a gift of silk. St. Brigid accepted his gift and apology and delighted with their deal returned to the convent to inform the nuns of their new exception to the societal rule of proposals.
As the years went on and the tradition spread and evolved additions were made to the tradition. When Irish monks brought the tradition to Scotland they included the rule that a woman looking to propose to a man must be wearing a red petticoat at the time or the proposal was not valid. This meant a man could see the woman's intentions before she approached him and so could avoid her if he planned to refuse and in doing so avoided the need to compensate her with a silk gown and apology. This evolved in later years to also include compensation options of gloves or fur coats. A man could also refuse without needing to give compensation if he was already married or could prove another woman had a claim to him.
In Irish society there are many customs and superstitions for all parts of daily life. Many of these customs regarding weddings will signal good or bad fortunes for the married couple. These can be as simple as what day of the week a wedding is held, the weather on the day or even what month you get married. However during a leap year some of these customs are reversed. For example getting married during the month of February was seen as unlucky except for during a leap year where it would be the opposite and the couple would have good luck in their marriage.
Traditionally weddings in Ireland were not held during Lent and so women hoping to be wed would aim to be married before Lent began. During a leap year not only could women propose marriage but they could also initiate dances at local gatherings letting the men who caught their eye aware of their romantic interest. The Sunday before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent was referred to as Puss Sunday as the women who were not married by then would be said to have a puss on their face... However during a leap year when the women were allowed to take control, Puss Sunday was in reference to the men who would have a puss on their face from not being chosen. In avoidance of remaining unwed- getting married on Shrove Tuesday before Ash Wednesday was seen as lucky however getting married on a Shrove Tuesday during a leap year was unlucky ... As was getting married on a Thursday or Friday during a leap year.
But not all Irish superstitions connected to the leap year revolve around marriage. Some of the other customs and beliefs were as follows:
If you got a cut during a leap year it would fester.
If you were born during a leap year (a leapling) you would be lucky in life.
A leap year was not a good year for farmers with livestock- particularly sheep.
Leap years in Ireland tend to have paranormal links too. Here in Waterford there are stories from the famous Curraghmore House of a ghostly light that appears in a field called Moore's farm every year on January 24th between the hours of 6 and midnight. This light is believed to be the spirit of one of the Lords from Curraghmore. Yet every leap year this single light becomes two individual lights which fly with extreme speed from one end of the field to the other over and over again.
Rostellan Castle which was located not far from Midleton Co. Cork before it was demolished in 1944 was said to have had 366 windows. One for each day of the year and one window would be boarded up during the years that had only 365 days. It was also said to have 52 doors inside. One for each week of the year.
In Toneymore castle in Co. Cavan there are nine stone steps that lead down to an underground cellar. A woman while visiting the site is said to have fallen down these stairs and died. It is said she comes back every leap year to haunt the castle.
And last but not least in Clew Bay on the West coast of Ireland- a place with ties to the ancient race of magical people of Irish legends the Tuatha De Danann, there is said to be 365 islands- one for each day of the year. Yet it is said that if you count the islands during a leap year you'll count 366.
In addition to these one other belief was that the entire year of a leap year was unlucky in itself and would bring bad luck.... Now while I can't say if this is true or not, I will mention that the last leap year before this was 2020...and that 13 days after the 29th of February Ireland began nationwide shut downs due to the pandemic. So make of that what you will.
Whatever your beliefs regarding it all may you have a happy and lucky leap year! 🤞🏻🍀
Image from 'Life' magazine cover 1896
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