Legal Commentary

it’s Leap Day: ladies, make me an offer

By David A. Giacalone

It’s February 29, 2008. What does this “Leap Day” mean to you? For conservationists and amphibian-lovers, it’s the launch date for the Year of the Frog, a reminder that “at least 120 species of frogs, toads, salamanders and other amphibians have gone extinct; as many as half of the 6,000 remaining species may soon vanish unless immediate action is taken. ” (see “Leap Day: Doomesday Vault for Frogs“)

Leap Day –
the space where
a frog was

……………. by laryalee fraser
- borrowed, as amended, from this haiga -

• For loophole-loving lawyers over the centuries, it’s “not a real day and had no status in English law” (Sydney Morning Herald, Feb. 28, 2004) — fertile ground indeed for the creative defense lawyer or crafty draftsman.
• For math and astronomy wonks, it’s an opportunity to explain again ad nauseum that “our solar year is 365.24219 days,” with all the resultant need for intercalary machinations and refinements.

• For the Chamber of Commerce of Anthony, Texas, it’s a chance to attract a crowd of Leap Year Babies (”leapings”) to their “6th Worldwide Leap Year Festival,” at the self-proclaimed Leap Year Capital of the World. [And see, “Local ?29ers? celebrate rare leap year birthdays,” Schenectady Daily Gazette, Feb. 29, 2008]

More to the point, for lonely ladies (or their impatient fathers) tired of waiting on that prince or other “fellas-ta-come-a-courtin,” and for their selective-but-traditionalist sisters impatient for Mr. Right to do the asking, “Leap Day is for (unconventional) lovers” — the one day when a woman could with society’s blessing propose to any man of her choosing. (see The Daily Green, Feb. 26, 2008) As the folks at Time & Date.com explain about February 29th:

Tradition, Folklore and Superstition

A tradition was introduced many centuries ago to allow women to propose to men during a leap year. This privilege of proposing was restricted to leap day in some areas. Leap day was sometimes known as ?Bachelors? Day?. A man was expected to pay a penalty, such as a gown or money, if he refused a marriage offer from a woman.

The tradition?s origin stemmed from an old Irish tale referring to St Bridget striking a deal with St Patrick . . .

running
right past me –
ms. sadie hawkins

………. by dagosan

For more particulars, see Wikipedia’s discussion of Leap Year traditions, and check out Denis Kitchen’s description of Sadie Hawkins’ Day, on which all unmarried women could chase down Dogpatch bachelors and hogtie them into marriage. Although Al Capp always held the Sadie Hawkins Race in early November, in his Li’l Abner comic strip, it is now celebrated on (or confused with) February 29th by many Americans. Al Capp is gone, but unmarried women needing a little incentive, might want to check our the article “Hotels offer Leap Day proposal specials“(The Indy Star, Feb. 10, 2008).

“Be careful, Clara, that’s a fine Specimen.” (Leap Year postcard, 1908)

one gray moth
above the candle -
Leap Day ends

……. by dagosan

leap year day
she goes down
on one knee

………………. by roberta beary

Naturally, the Leap Day tradition is also a boon or slight beacon of hope (and often a disappointment) for bashful bachelors, and those suffering chronically unrequited love (like this one, whose still in search of an Attractive Nuisance co-blogger). Of course, many such single guys have always been just too darn choosey, and I’m sure they’ve been lining up excuses just in case they need to say no to a Leap Day proposal. As noted above, any such rejection is subject to penalties. According to Wikipedia:

“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.”

Let’s hope the fines will not be needed, and Leap Day brings happiness to members of both genders. Our ever-optimistic haikuEsq wrote rather late last night to a number of female haijin, pleading for them to submit a haiku or senryu to share here today in honor of Leap Day. You’ll find poems sprinkled throughout this post from a number of those fair ladies, along with a few plaintive ones by our sadsack dagosan. Many thanks to Alice, Roberta, and Laryalee.

As we receive (or conceive of) more Leap Day Ku, we’ll add them to this posting. Meanwhile, you single folk shouldn’t let Leap Day slip by without letting the (unmarried) object of your affections know your feelings.

together . . .
first light
of the extra day

…………. by alice frampton

the frog
and the lady -
eyeing that mosquito

………. by dagosan

leaping into
the sound of no –
frog prince

………………….. by laryalee fraser

he tells her
he’s already married
…leap year day

………………. by roberta beary

almost March 1st
the Leap Day Bachelor
re-checks his email

…………. by dagosan

afterglow (4 PM):

the short month
a leap day longer–
he says yes

lunch date 
I dare him to mention
Sadie Hawkins’ Day

……………………. by peggy willis lyles  

Full post as published by f/k/a . . . on February 29, 2008 (boomark / email).