It seems that the English has traditions for every holiday although they do not decorate their homes for them like we do!
Leap Day occurs once every 4 years because it takes the earth 365 and 1/4 days to go around the sun. The solution was to add one day on the calendar in order to balance it out. There is tradition that women are allowed to propose to a man on the leap year day. This is said to happen because of St Bridget in the 5th Century. She felt that women had to wait to long to be asked by men to get married so St Patrick suggested that it be okay on the leap year day. Although it is thought that it was not common practice until the 19th century. As the day was not recognized under English law, it common to break with the convention on this day.
All the Best!
American to Britain
Leap Day occurs once every 4 years because it takes the earth 365 and 1/4 days to go around the sun. The solution was to add one day on the calendar in order to balance it out. There is tradition that women are allowed to propose to a man on the leap year day. This is said to happen because of St Bridget in the 5th Century. She felt that women had to wait to long to be asked by men to get married so St Patrick suggested that it be okay on the leap year day. Although it is thought that it was not common practice until the 19th century. As the day was not recognized under English law, it common to break with the convention on this day.
All the Best!
American to Britain