IT is the 29th of February 2024 ... Happy Leap Year Day!
On this day Antinous/Amor/Eros shoots his arrows and all must obey! There is an old tradition that women can propose marriage to any man they fancy today.
In folk lore, an "old maid" (a euphemism for a witch or magical person) uses the special powers of Leap Year Day to concoct a love potion which is foolproof.
In popular folklore, a "spinster" (from the Old English word for a woman who spins a web of magical spells) uses enchantments to cook foods ... especially sweets ... which contain magical charms which cause a man to fall hopelessly in love with her.
In Britain there is even an act of Parliament dated 1228 which reads: "Gif he refuses to tak hir to be his wyf, he shale be mulct in the sum of ane hundrity punches, or less, as his estait may bee, except and alwais gif he can make it appeare that he is betrothit to anither woman, then he schall be free."
But the tradition applies to all couples! If you ask someone to marry you today ... that person will say yes!
Interesting to learn the word spinster is reserved for someone who uses magic spell!
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