More Friday Silliness: It's Leap year

So I forgot, this is Leap Year, day....and being single, I thought I should list who I would propose to...if I took advantage of the liberties offered me today. (See below for a little leap year history lesson.)

There of course are many factors to consider, when making this selection.....looks, of course, fatherly qualities, for my kids benefit, the character quality they protray, when acting....and as I think of the choices out their, single of course would have to be a quality, and most of all godliness oh, and age, must be close to mine. Now as I look at that list, I know of not one well-seasoned, good-looking, godly, single, father-to-be. So, since this is suppose to be silly, I will select the fictious charater protrayed, rather than the actor or actual person involved.

So fifth runner up is:

Clark Davis (Character) played by Dale Midkiff In the movie Love Comes Softly (also in the sequels)

Fourth Runner up is:

Benjamin Martin (Character) played by Mel Gibson in The Patriot (yes, we knew Mel had to get in the list somewhere...of course the character he protrays and not the actor)

Third Runner up is:

Marlin (character) played by Albert Brooks in Finding Nemo. Now I think he could get on my nerves a tad...and would that mean I am Dory? or his past wife who was eaten? (I wonder how Mel feels, being beat out by a fish? An imaginary one at that.)

Second Runner up is:

George Banks (Character) as played by Steve Martin in The Father of the Bride

First Runner up, and the one who will take over the duties if for any reason, the winner cannot or will not fulfill his role, is:

Jack Campbell (Character) as played by Nicholas Cage in The Family Man.

And the winner is: (drum roll please)

Jose (Character) played by Eduardo Verastegui in Bella.... The crowd roars! (Ok, so he is just so darn cute, simple life style, could cook a mean dinner, and likes kids, even if they are not his own.) (ok so he may be a tad too young!)

Now wasn't that fun???? On to our history l,esson.

Leap Year History Lesson

Leap Year has been the traditional time that women can propose marriage. In many of today's cultures, it is okay for a woman to propose marriage to a man. Society doesn't look down on such women. However, that hasn't always been the case. When the rules of courtship were stricter, women were only allowed to pop the question on one day every four years. That day was February 29th.

St. Bridget's Complaint It is believed this tradition was started in 5th century Ireland when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait for so long for a man to propose. According to legend, St. Patrick said the yearning females could propose on this one day in February during the leap year.

February 29th in English Law According to English law, February 29th was ignored and had no legal status. Folks assumed that traditions would also have no status on that day. It was also reasoned that since the leap year day existed to fix a problem in the calendar, it could also be used to fix an old and unjust custom that only let men propose marriage.

The first documentation of this practice dates back to 1288, when Scotland passed a law that allowed women to propose marriage to the man of their choice in that year. They also made it law that any man who declined a proposal in a leap year must pay a fine. The fine could range from a kiss to payment for a silk dress or a pair of gloves.

Sadie Hawkins Day In the United States, some people have referred to this date as Sadie Hawkins Day with women being given the right to run after unmarried men to propose.
Sadie Hawkins was a female character in the Al Capp cartoon strip Li'l Abner. Many communities prefer to celebrate Sadie Hawkins Day in November which is when Al Capp first mentioned Sadie Hawkins Day.

Greek Superstition There is a Greek superstition that claims couples have bad luck if they marry during a leap year. Apparently one in five engaged couples in Greece will avoid planning their wedding during a leap year