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Today is leap year day – hooray! We have an extra 24 hours to do whatever we like.
Here are five things from around the world to consider during your additional day revolving around the sun…
Pictured: We get an entire extra day today!
That’s what we should call anyone who celebrates their birthday on 29 February.
They’ll be more used to marking their special day on either 28 February or 1 March but 29 February is really their birthday.
Some countries specify that if your birthday is 29 February, it be marked the day earlier, but others – like the UK – say it falls on 1 March, meaning the year you turn 18 you are forced to wait that teensy bit longer for your first tipple down the pub.
Tradition states that a woman can propose to a man on 29 February, but did you know there were traditionally penalties for any mean man who may have said no?
Luckily for those unloved ladies, Queen Margaret of Scotland (1503-1513) decreed that any man who refused a Leap Day proposal should pay a fine of £1 OR a silk gown.
In Denmark the fine is 12 pairs of gloves (to hide the shame of not being betrothed throughout the year…), while in Finland the scorned proposer must be gifted enough fabric to make themselves a nice new skirt.
Some might say that the Greeks have got it the right way round, by avoiding all marriages during a leap year.
It’s considered bad luck to get married during a leap year, with fears it will lead to divorce.
Getting divorced during a leap year in Greece is also considered bad luck with more superstitions stating that those separated couples will never find happiness ever again...
Get comfy and get reading La Bougie du Sapeur – a satirical French newspaper, published only once every four years.
The name translates as ‘Sapper’s Candle’ which was inspired by a character in an old French comic strip, which was born on Leap Day.
The French love La Bougie du Sapeur with more than 150,000 copies sold on 29 February every four years.
Spare a thought for the sheep of Scotland this leap year.
An old Scottish superstition means leap years have long been regarded as a bad year for livestock.
The shear fear of anything going wrong on the additional day every four years used to worry Scottish farmers so much that the sheep bore the brunt of the worry with the phrase: ‘Leap year was ne’er a good sheep year’ being coined many moons ago.
Take 5 is a regular feature in Connect magazine which can be read online HERE.
The next edition of Connect will be available online and in select locations across the island from 1 March.
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