Empire State Building lights up for charity on Leap Day

This year, more than ever, I feel called to observe that Leap Day belongs to no one, and is thus ripe for camping out by everyone.

A query arose on a folklore-study ListServ I read - a journalist had asked a folklorist for "Leap Day folklore." Well, until recent times, there is basically not any. The day is well known and well understood, yet lacks any religious or historic justification. A few folkloric ideas have been attached to it (most notably, the idea that women can propose to men on this day, once every four years), but they are thin on the ground and with little evidence of past observance. It was suggested that the very idea of "Leap Day Folklore" was a byproduct of deadline writers answering to editors who asked them to seek a Leap Day story.

But it points up this interesting phenomenon - we've got a Day available, a Day that everyone knows and understands, yet no one cause or constituency can lay authoritative claim to. So, why not breast cancer? This 'holiday' is in the public domain, ready for branding by whomever can make hay of it.