Happy February 29th! It is a special day, only coming around every four years. While there is some debate as to whether Sadie Hawkins Day is November 15th or February 29th, we here in the string band are claiming Leap Day as our day! A creation of Al Capp in his "Lil Abner" comic strip, Sadie Hawkins Day turned the tables and encouraged women and girls to take the initiative and ask the man or boy of their choice out on a date or to dance. The idea took hold in 1930s America and Sadie Hawkins Day dances became a time-honored tradition all across the country. Pre-dating the comic strip is the old Irish tradition of St. Bridget's Complaint. Traditionally, on February 29th, women could pop the question to their special lad, skirting the stricter rules of courtship of the time. Legend has it that St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait too long for their men to propose. St. Patrick gave his blessing to the ladies to use this one special day in February every four years to propose.
Times have certainly changed, but we here in the Sadie Hawkins Day String Band reflect on these traditions with a spirit of fun and lightheartedness. Our music and the way we play it honor the people, traditions, and the spirit of past times that had a lot of heart.
source information:
Times have certainly changed, but we here in the Sadie Hawkins Day String Band reflect on these traditions with a spirit of fun and lightheartedness. Our music and the way we play it honor the people, traditions, and the spirit of past times that had a lot of heart.
source information:
http://lil-abner.com/sadie-hawkins-day/
http://womensissues.about.com/od/womensbodiesminds/f/SadieHawkinsDay.htm