Dear Sonic,
Deary me, I hope I don't get blamed for sarting up someting ! So far as I know, it's an old tradition that on February 29th ( which only turns up every 4 years, in a leap year ) women are supposed to be able to propose to me. Ok, to us enlightened folks, that's something we consider that women should feel free to do any day of any year, but this tradition arose in the times when it was considered unthinkable for any woman to do so at any other time.
At least that was the version I though. If leapie's version is right, at least half of us are in serious trouble --- so if 35 women propose to me, I have to stump up for expensive presents for at least 34 of them ? I wonder if this isn't perhaps a more modern version of the tradition, sponsored by the manufacturers and retailers of those Expensive Gifts ? :}