Leaping into the Past
As we enter another leap year in 2024, according to Irish folklore, we ladies are encouraged to pursue a man with urgency and integrity! This anachronic tradition on Leap Day known as “Bachelor’s Day” originally allowed for women to propose to men during a time with much stricter patriarchal social customs.
The legend goes that Saint Brigid and Saint Patrick struck this deal in the 5th century on behalf of women tired of waiting for their significant others to pop the question. This lore had some legitimacy in the 1800s as the unwedded would face ridicule and, in some countries, even legal consequences.
The promotion of this tradition during the tail end of the Victorian Era is displayed on these cards. It seems bizarre and patronizing, sure, but ultimately in today’s gender role climate, it is laughable. If only 1908 could take a peek at 2024 and see that it is absolutely unnecessary for permission to be granted in order for a woman to put herself out there. Today it would only read as some sort of “you won’t come off as desperate” day pass that will soon expire.
These reminders from the past highlight so much history, while begging so many questions, and probably the rolling of some eyes. Despite the intention to empower women, this leap year concept may instead come off as insulting. However, it resulted in some animated tongue-in-cheek postcards and maybe even a little motivation for this particular sender.
These featured postcards are from the collection of Sandy Miller, and are provided courtesy of Carl and Susan Spatocco.
July 19 1908
Sit up
and
take
notice
BD
July 19, 1908
got here safe
have a nice
room forsaken
place this is
what I am
trying to do
BD
We have Sandy Miller to thank for these leap year novelty cards and many more that we will explore in 2024. Her finely tuned and well organized collection of vintage postcards encompasses over a hundred years of Cape May history. Many prints were rare and unique to the time, like the cards above.
Sandy Miller dedicated much time and effort to the greater good of Cape May. She owned and operated the Windward House Bed & Breakfast, located in the heart of the historic district on Jackson Street, for 40 years.
On the surface, this poetic postcard admiring the sand dollar is a cute collectible. But to Cape May, with the Sandy Miller sentiment considered, it becomes an artifact.
July 31, 1964*
We have found a rocking chair that we like so don’t bother with Mariam’s. the only other things we need are David’s rubber bed pad and also the straw placemats which are in the top drawer of the buffet. there is no rush on these things so just bring them when you come also mail + magazines. See you soon, Love Marta
*We estimated the date based partial characters that allowed us to identify possible letters/numbers based on the typeface design, and the time frame when postcards cost only four cents to mail: January 7, 1963–January 6, 1968 (source: Smithsonian National Postal Museum).
