Once every four years . . .

 

So, this year we get an extra day. We are always wishing we had more time, and this year we do (as we do every four years.)  A full 24 hours, 1440 minutes  . . .  what will you do with your extra time?  

Leap Year Day has quite a few traditions attached to it actually.  For instance it is tradition (especially in Ireland) for women to ask men to marry them.  

 

Yes girls, instead of you waiting for the old procrastinator to get down on one knee, you can do it yourself.  It is believed that this custom was introduced to balanace the traditional rolls of men and women the way Leap Day balances the year.  Not sure I would ever have the courage myself, but many do.  

 

Its also known as Bachelor's Day in some places and for the same reasons.  And in fact, in some places it is the custom that should a man refuse a marriage proposal on Leap Year Day he has to pay a penalty such as money or a gown.  

In many European countries, especially in the upper classes of society, tradition dictates that any man who refuses a woman's proposal on February 29 has to buy her 12 pairs of gloves. The intention is that the woman can wear the gloves to hide the embarrassment of not having an engagement ring. During the middle ages there were actually laws governing this tradition.

 

People born on February 29 are all invited to join The Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies.  According to the Guinness Book of Records, there are Leap Day World Record Holders both of a family producing three consecutive generations born on February 29 and of the number of children born on February 29 in the same family.

I can remember as a child worrying about how a person born on a leap year day would celebrate their birthday.  Were they actually much younger than everyone else because their birthday's only came every four years?

In Scotland, it used to be considered unlucky for someone to be born on leap day, just as Friday 13th is considered an unlucky day by many. Greeks consider it unlucky for couples to marry during a leap year, and especially on Leap Day. I wouldn't want to be married on a Leap Day . . .  that would mean you only had a real anniversary to celebrate every four years!  The same with birthdays, only every four years.  Or you could celebrate on the 1 of March I suppose.

The year 1960 was a Leap Year.  My brother was born on the 3 of March that year.  I wonder if my mother had been worried he would be born on Leap Day?  I will never know  . . . it is a question I just never thought to ask her.

 

 Leap day is also St Oswald’s Day, named after the archbishop of York who died on February 29, 992. His memorial is celebrated on February 29 during leap years and on February 28 during common years.

Once the King of Northrumbria, after his death Oswald soon came to be regarded as a saint. Bede says that the spot where he died came to be associated with miracles, and people took dirt from the site, which led to a hole being dug as deep as a man's height.

The south transept of Chester Cathedral served as the ancient parish church of St. Oswald, which originally served the townships of Bache, Croughton, Great Boughton, Iddinshall, Newton by Chester and Wervin, and parts of Blacon cum Crabwall, Upton by Chester, and the City of Chester.

I live in Blacon . . . .  rhymes with Bacon. Fascinating.

 

In any case, I haven't yet decided what I am going to do with this extra day we have been given this year.  Another storm is supposed to roll in, so expect that it will be windy and rainy.  We have quite a bunch of bedding to take to the launderette.  With all the rain I haven't had the opportunity to hang the wash out of doors.  I don't have a clothers drier, only a drying rack and its not large enough to hole a bunch of bedding. We end up having it hanging over doors etc.  Instead I have decided that from now on I will just take it to the launderette and they can launder it, press it and it won't be a problem for us to deal with any longer, at least so long as the sun doesn't shine.  Of course when the sun does shine, I will happily hang it out of doors.  

I haven't had a clothes drier for 20 years now. Most of the time I don't miss it . . .  unless I have bedding to do. 

 

I also want to go to the shops and pick up a few things.  With this corona virus worsening I am thinking we need to have some things stocked in the house just in case they tell people to stay indoors  . . .  so I am going to go out and buy some long life shelf stable milk, a big bottle of cooking oil, a large bag of flour, sugar and a big bag of oats.  We already had plenty of water stored and a lot of other stuff, but those things I don't have any or much of so I want to get it in.  Here in the UK it is impossible to stock up on your medications as they will only ever issue you with 28 day's worth at a time. 

I think this is something which will get a lot worse before it gets better and I want to be prepared just in case. 

I also want to do a bit of cooking today. We'll see how it goes. I am also thinking we might watch the film, Leap Year.  Now that would be fun.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *I used to be afraid of the dark

until I learned that I am a light

and the dark is afraid of me.•。★★ 。* 。 

 

In the English Kitchen today . . .  Pain Perdu with Fresh Berries.  Its made with brioche bread and very yummy. 

Have a fabulous Leap Day!  Whatever you do with your 24 extra hours, don't forget! 

 

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And I do too!