Sadie Hawkins Day is NOT February 29

Sadie Hawkins day was started by Al Capp in his comic strip "Li'l Abner". It was the first Saturday after November 9 in Dogpatch. There was always the "Leap Day" in history that it was fashioned after.

In the English speaking a world, it is a tradition that women may propose marriage only on leap years. This tradition has been attributed to either Saint Patrick or Brigid of Kildare in 5th century Ireland. This is not likely since the tradition was not recorded before the 19th century. Supposedly, a 1288 law by Queen Margaret of Scotland required fines for the man refusing the proposal. One small problem, she was five and living in Norway at the time. The fine could range from a from a kiss to a silk gown.

The tradition was supposedly restricted to the modern leap day, February 29, or to the medieval leap day, February 24, (prior to the adoption of Pope Gregory's calendar) in order to limit the risk to the men. The women were expected to wear breeches or pants. This was later replaced with a scarlet petticoat. If you see a flash of red, you best have your running shoes on!

Sadie Hawkins Day

Sadie Hawkins was the daughter of one of Dogpatch's earliest settlers, Hekzebiah Hawkins. When she reached the age of 35, still a spinster, her father in desperation called together the eligible bachelors of Dogpatch and declared that day to be Sadie Hawkins Day and that "when ah fires [my gun] all o' yo' kin start a-runnin! When ah fires agin - after givin' yo' a fair start - Sadie starts a runnin'. Th' one she ketches'll be her husband."

The town spinsters decided that this was such a good idea, they made Sadie Hawkins Day an annual event, much to the chagrin of Dogpatch bachelors everywhere.

Sadie Hawkins Day was first mentioned in the November 13, 1937 Li'l Abner strip with the race actually taking place between the November 19th and November 30th strips. It would prove to be an annual event in the strip. The discrepancy between the stated date and the observed date was never addressed.

Sadie Hawkins Day captured the imagination of many young people, particularly on campuses. A Life magazine headline reported that "On Sadie Hawkins Day, Girls Chase Boys in 201 Colleges." This was in 1939.

Many US high schools, especially in the Midwest and South, hold Sadie Hawkins day dances. Even some Canadian high schools have these dances once a year. These dances are characterized by girls asking boys for dates, and matching farmer clothes being worn to the dance. This dance can be also be called "WPA" (Women Pay All). The girl pays for the entire date for one time in her life. (Maybe the only time, too!)