Exactly 100 years ago today, this special Leap Year greeting card countered social constraints of latter day Victorian England and allowed the process of romance to begin "in reverse" . . .
The first documentation of this practice dates back to 1288, when Scotland supposedly passed a law allowing women to propose marriage to the men of their choice in Leap Year. Tradition states 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.
Disbelief: this chick would have been snatched up 10 years earlier.
Is that the future mother-in-law giving advice?
The Queen Bee at work. Honey Boy?
I didn't understand this one right off, either.
A full century later, we have turned the tradition over to the toads.
Happy Leap Day, Lori. What a wild notion but so incredibly romantic for a man to have to pay a fine if he said no! Great topic for today.
ReplyDeletePretty cool!! thanks for sharing :)
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