In Taiwan, trotter soup is made to protect the health of the elderly
Photo : iStock
February 29th only comes once every four years and as such, it deserves to be celebrated! This unique day plays a crucial role in ensuring our calendar stays in harmony with Earth’s orbit around the sun. The Earth’s orbit takes approximately 365.25 days, not precisely 365 days. To accommodate this, we incorporate an extra day into the calendar every four years, maintaining synchronisation with the changing seasons.
Around the world different cultures have a range of traditions and rituals that mark the day as something special and many of them feature a selection of interesting dishes too, because after all, no celebration is complete without some food. Let’s take a closer look at some Leap Day traditions around the world.
Protecting The Elderly In Taiwan
In Taiwan, Leap Years are meant to be bad luck for the elderly, so on the 29th, daughters prepare a dish of pig trotter noodles for their elderly parents which is believed to bring health and good fortune, countering potential bad luck.
Celebrating Women In Ireland
Every Leap Day, traditional gender roles in Ireland are considered reversed. Legend has it that St. Bridget and St. Patrick agreed to let women propose to men every four years. This tradition, originating in the 5th century, results in whimsical proposals often celebrated with grand feasts.
Photo : iStock
A Cocktail For The Occasion
A delightful concoction comprising Grand Marnier, sweet vermouth, gin, and a splash of lemon juice was crafted in 1928 by Harry Craddock, a skilled bartender at London’s Savoy Hotel in homage to the hotel’s Feb. 29 festivities. The leap day cocktail is renowned as the “more colourful relative of the Martini.”
Warding Off Bad Luck In China
In Chinese culture Leap Years are viewed with a high amount of superstition and is considered an inauspicious time to start new ventures. Instead, Chinese families gather to feast on dishes like whole steamed fish and dumplings which celebrate the idea of prosperity through food and invite longevity, and good fortune in the upcoming year.
Leaping Parties
In February 1988, the town of Anthony, Texas, proclaimed itself the “leap year capital of the world,” a title attributed to the initiative of Mary Ann Brown and Birdie Lewis. Both born on leap day, Brown and Lewis proposed a festival to honour this exceptional day. The 4-day festival draws crowds from across the world to feast on American fairground foods like corndogs and BBQ.
Honour St. Oswald In The UK
Indulge in a banquet on St Oswald’s Day in England. Leap Day has transformed into a tribute to St Oswald, the revered figure credited with transforming the Anglo-Saxon Church and propagating Christianity in Northumbria. His demise on 29 February 992 is commemorated through feasts, including those at the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter.
These are just a few of the ways that people mark their celebrations on Leap Day every year and people even host special parties for their friends and family filled with fun, feasting and festivities.