Record-high number of couples marry on leap day in Copenhagen

The tradition allows women to propose, and turning one down can be very costly

Lucie Rychla

Feb 25, 2016

A record-high number of couples took advantage of the Danish leap day tradition and got spontaneously married at Copenhagen City Hall yesterday.

Over 120 couples tied the knot this year, while in 2012, some 69 couples got married on leap day, which in Denmark falls on February 24 – a throwback to the Julian Calendar.

Wedding ceremonies were carried out between 10 am and 6 pm by Carl Christian Ebbesen, the deputy mayor for culture and leisure.

Free of charge
Copenhagen City Hall traditionally offers leap day wedding ceremonies, where couples can simply show up and get married.

Danish citizens get the service for free and don’t even have to bring any special documents, unless they have spent a long period abroad.

Foreigners have to pay 500 kroner.

According to tradition, single women can ask their beloved to marry them on a leap day and the men have to say ‘yes’ or give the woman 12 pairs of gloves or 12 pairs of silk stockings.

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