LEAP DAY
Giving flowers on February 29, an ancient tradition going viral for leap day
The practice of giving flowers on leap day, February 29, is surging as a trend as people mark the extra day with thoughtful gifts.
Say it’s a Leap Year with flowers! Giving a bouquet on February 29 has become one of the latest trends to celebrate the extra day. This leap year tradition is blossoming into a mainstay online, intertwining the timeless expression of love and affection with the rarity of February 29.
Why gift flowers on February 29?
Flowers have long been tokens of affection and love. This makes February 29, a leap day that only comes once every four years, an opportune moment to give flowers to those we cherish. But what’s the story behind this flourishing tradition? The leap year phenomenon, with its every-four-year rarity, has spurred this trend from social media to real life, marking February 29 as an exceptional day to make unforgettable memories and share heartfelt tokens of love.
And of course for anyone actually born today, February 29, they deserve flowers and more. (Check out how many people were born on February 29 and how many will be born today.)
The deep-rooted significance of gifting flowers
The tradition of floral gifting dates back to ancient civilizations in China, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, where flowers were often used in religious offerings to deities. This practice has its echoes in Greek mythology, particularly in the worship of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, through floral offerings.
Medieval poet Gonzalo de Berceo documented legends from the Middle Ages that discuss the reasons behind giving flowers. However, the tradition of giving flowers varies by country:
- Yellow Flowers: While aesthetically pleasing, yellow flowers are not universally welcomed; in places like Italy, France, Russia, or Germany, they are often linked with separation or misfortune.
- The Importance of Numbers: In Japan and Russia, presenting a bouquet of four flowers is seen as unlucky, as is the case with even numbers.
- Red Flowers: In Hungary, red flowers are considered a harbinger of bad luck, in poor taste, and synonymous with goodbyes.
- The Proper Way to Gift Flowers: In Kenya, offering flowers with the left hand is frowned upon. It’s seen as polite and respectful to give them with the right hand.
So now you know, celebrate #LeapDay with flowers!