Mimi wrote:
ElephantBanjoGnome wrote:
I'm currently discussing the reasoning behind the current definition of a second, and the use of the leap second, with my phd physics mate. So in 4 years time I'll be able to say I was doing that.
Woman are allowed to propose on any day of any year Mimi. Just like men are allowed to give their girlfriend a card and flowers on any day that's not February 14th. Social expectations can sod off.
I know why I put the word 'allowed' in little quotation marks, because I don't think like that, either. But then if people do want to save it for a particular day because of tradition (how did that tradition come about, by the way? Does anyone know?) Then I guess it makes for a cute story for the grandkids one day. I believe my mother proposed to The Wizard on Leap Day. I guess four years ago.
Lazy copy and paste from Wikipedia -
Quote:
In the British Isles, it is a tradition that women may propose marriage only on leap years. While it has been claimed that the tradition was initiated by Saint Patrick or Brigid of Kildare in 5th century Ireland, this is dubious, as the tradition has not been attested before the 19th century.[8] Supposedly, a 1288 law by Queen Margaret of Scotland (then age five and living in Norway), required that fines be levied if a marriage proposal was refused by the man; compensation ranged from a kiss to £1 to a silk gown, in order to soften the blow.[9] In some places the tradition was tightened to restricting female proposals to the modern leap year day, February 29, or to the medieval (bissextile) leap year day, February 24.