| Traditionally women may make a marriage proposal to a man on February 29, or any time during a leap year.
With the special day upon us tomorrow, Dundee jewellers have told the Tele they have been swamped by members of the fairer sex shopping for engagement rings.
It appears girls across the city are planning to seize the day to pop the question to their one true love.
‘John Wilson, owner of Knights the Jeweller, says girl power has been on show like never before this year.
“It has been absolutely amazing. The girls have been coming in in record numbers.
“Their attitude seems to be if their men are not going to propose ‘we’ll just do it ourselves’.
“There has been a significant change on the previous leap year. The girls just seem a lot more confident and more positive about doing it.
“I think it is a brilliant thing. Girl power is what it is all about. They’re not going to leave it to the men anymore.
“If you are willing to accept a no or the rejection then fair play to you — that is what men have had to put up with for years.
“Sometimes they are coming in on their own or sometimes they come in with a girlfriend and have a laugh with them about it.”
Nada Main, assistant manager of Symingtons in Murraygate, said customers had also been joking about the opportunity.
She said, “They have been saying this is the chance they’ve been waiting for.”
The tradition dates back to medieval times when February 29 had no recognition in law and was considered a date when normal social and cultural niceties could be forgotten.
It became a date when women concerned about being left on the shelf could feel free to propose to the man of their dreams without social stigma or accusations of immorality.
It is claimed that Scotland, under Queen Margaret, passed a law officially permitting the custom in 1288.
According to legend, any man turning down a leap-year proposal faced being hit with a fine, the punishments ranging from a kiss to paying for a silk dress.
Dundee’s City Registrar Grant Law said he was not surprised to learn more and more women in the city are taking the opportunity to pop the question.
“I would say the majority of bookings we have are made by woman — maybe as high a number as 80%.
“They are the ones who seem to take charge of the situation so this doesn’t surprise me.” |
