'The right of every women to propose on 29th February each leap year goes back hundreds of years when the leap year day had no recognition in English law (the day was 'leapt over' and ignored, hence the term 'leap year'). It was decided that the day had no legal status, meaning that a break in tradition on this day was acceptable.'
(
Ellie Bytes is back... again,
Fri 29 Feb 2008, 0:26,
archived)