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Culture July 26, 2017
Good luck or bad luck?
Photo via Instagram / @bezyphotoLeap Day occurs every four years on Feb. 29, with the next one coming up in 2020. While the scientific significance of Leap Day is to keep the Gregorian calendar in line with the solar year, thus keeping the future predictable, cultures have different perspectives on the holiday. This definitely leads to some interesting Leap Day superstitions.
ENTITY compiled a list of the most popular Leap Day superstitions.
In Ireland, Feb. 29 traditions play into Leap Day superstitions. It is believed that the day brings good luck.
Because of this, women are encouraged to propose to their boyfriends on Leap Day. The legend dates back to the fifth century when Saint Brigid of Kildare allegedly proposed to Saint Patrick after convincing him to allow women to propose to their timid male suitors once every four years.
As legend has it, Saint Patrick turned her down, but gave her a silk gown as compensation.
The legend has been debunked by historians because Saint Brigid of Kildare was only nine when Saint Patrick died, making the tale highly unlikely.
Nevertheless, the Irish still consider Leap Day lucky and keep the tradition of women proposing on Feb. 29 alive.
However, some Europeans hold Leap Day superstitions that Feb. 29 brings bad luck. Such cases can be seen in Scotland, Greece and Italy.
In Scotland, the legend dates back to 1288 when Queen Margaret allegedly enacted a law allowing women to propose on Leap Day if they wore a red petticoat to warn her suitor of a proposal. This legend was also debunked because Queen Margaret was only five-years-old when the law was enacted. In fact, historians have trouble finding any evidence that the law ever existed at all.
The Greeks also consider Leap Day and the entire year to be bad luck, specifically when it comes to marriage. Because of this, engaged couples will wait until leap year passes to say their vows.
Like the Greeks, in Italy, Leap Day superstitions advise against buying a house or a car and waiting until the next year to avoid bad luck.
Multiple countries also consider having a child during leap year bad luck and say the child will be difficult to raise.
When it comes to Leap Day superstitions, the spiritual community sees Feb. 29 in a positive light. They believe the day is good for healing, learning and love.
They also think it is a time to follow your soul’s innermost desires and ambitions.
This is has to do with the numerology behind the date Feb. 29. Both the numbers two and 11 (2+9) have these special meanings in the spiritual community.
Among Leap Day superstitions, another common claim is that Leap Day brings more death. While they seem to be focusing on a perceived mystical aspect behind this claim, there is a legitimate scientific reason for more death.
We add a day, meaning there are 24 more hours available for people to kick the bucket. Morbid, we know. But, this would definitely explain why people think leap year brings more death.
So whether you buy into the Leap Day superstitions or not, at least you’ll have some fun facts to share with your friends in February 2020.
