Happy Pseudo Sadie Hawkins Day!
Did you know that in the English speaking world, there’s a tradition that women may propose marriage on leap years? Yep. Surprise!
While it has been argued that the tradition was initiated by Saint Patrick or Brigid of Kildare in 5th century Ireland, it is dubious as the tradition has not been attested before the 19th century. Supposedly, a 1288 law by Queen Margaret of Scotland (then age five and living in Norway), required that fines be levied if a marriage proposal was refused by the man; compensation ranged from a kiss to a pound (money, nothing kinky– they didn’t have S&M in the 13th century) to a silk gown, in order to let the girl down easy.
Because men felt that put them at too great a risk, the tradition was in some places tightened to restricting female proposals to the modern leap day, February 29.
In modern times, of course, we knows this as Sadie Hawkins Day, made famous by the denizens of Dogpatch in Li’l Abner— although that takes place in mid-November, one can never be too careful when being chased by dames. You’ve all been warned.
I have never been proposed to.
I've been proposed to five times (twice by the same guy). I only said Yes to the first one and then found out he meant me to stay home and have babies. After those five, I realized that deeply religious men were not for me. Then I got sick and I don't date anymore.
I'm a fan of the idea of having babies if my wife to be is up to it, I'm not big on just dropping off the boys and then letting the woman raise 'em… marriage is a partnership, even in child raising. But yeah I'm not eager for kids RIGHT off the bat, I'd like some time alone with the missus first.
"They didn't have S&M in the 13th century"??? That's sarcasm, right? The trouble with you kids today is that you think you invented everything.
All right, they had S&M, but they called it religious conversion. Happy?
I would have been until you married S&M with religion. Ewwww…
By definition, they couldn't have had S&M in the 13th century. The Marquis de Sade wasn't born until 1740, and Leopold von Sacher-Masoch was born in 1836.
Are you writing up birthday tributes for ComicMix?
Depends– do their birthdays coincide with Howard Chaykin?