So I am guessing if you’re reading this that you are engaged (if you’re not engaged then you’re probably trying to figure out when the heck your partner is going to finally pop the question)

So the headlines are 40% of all proposals happen from November to January – we all know these dark, cold days need to be brightened up and what’s better than a gorgeous rock (or not depending on your personal preference) on your ring finger – yasss an engagement ring! 

The most popular month for the question to be popped is December, with a whopping 14% of engagements happening during the most festive of months. 

The absolute winners of days of get engaged in order of popularity are:

*Christmas Day

*Valentines Day

*Christmas Eve

*New Year’s Day

*New Year’s Eve

Great news is, as clearly all these are super memorable dates you won’t ever forget the date you got engaged and who doesn’t want another anniversary date to celebrate, more fizz anyone?

Clearly this month, February is HUGE, no MASSIVE for engagements 

– not only is it a nice round even numbered month and year 02/2020 and who doesn’t love an even number, 

-it is also the month for loveeee – Valentines Day (and of course, Pancake Day, how about a pancake proposal?!)

-this year we also have a Leap Year – HELLO LADIES!

So every fourth year on the 366th day of the year 29th February it is the day traditionally a woman can propose to her other half.  So if you’re a traditionalist, you can now break free of those traditional chains and you, yes you, the girl can ask the man to marry her.  The tradition has a few backstories… a couple which make me smile are:

In the 5th Century an Irish nun, St Bridget, complained about the length of time women had to wait for her suitor to propose. St Patrick came back suggesting a woman could propose, but only every four years. However, if the woman was going to propose she had to wear breeches or a scarlet petticoat to show their intention.

Alternatively, and probably the most likely, the option came about when Leap Years weren’t legally recognised. So the day had no legal status and therefore women could go nuts, break the traditional rules and propose.

All of this is clearly outdated thinking, and anyone can propose to who they like, when and how they like. However there is something rather romantic about a sprinkling of tradition which forms the foundations to your traditions.

And I do love the concept and excitement of getting engaged on such a rare and special date – although not too sure I could wait to celebrate my engagement date every four years.

I totally love an engagement story  – I can’t wait to hear yours, what’s your date? Are you Christmas or Valentines or somewhere in between?