Leap Year comes just once every four years, so why not take advantage of the extra day (on February 29, 2016)  and plan a Girls' Hong Kong Get-away Experience this February.

Leap Year Day, on February 29, has been a day of traditions, folklore and superstitions ever since Leap Years were first introduced by Julius Caesar over 2000 years ago.

There are many stories over the centuries about Leap Year Proposals – when women were “officially” allowed to ask for a man's hand in matrimony.

Throughout the month of February, InterContinental Hong Kong celebrates the independent spirit of today's woman, who takes charge of her own destiny and plans her own holidays.

So this February. gather your girlfriends and plan a “Who Runs the World - Girls” Getaway at InterContinental Hong Kong – taking the extra day in February to pamper yourself and celebrate YOU!

InterContinental Hong Kong's “Who Runs the World – Girls” Getaway Package is valid from February 1-29, 2016 and is inclusive of:

Your choice of accommodations:

• Junior Harbourview Suite for two persons: HK$6,029
• Junior Harbourview Suite for three persons: HK$7529 (inclusive of an extra bed)
• Junior Harbourview Suite  + an InterContinental Harbourview Room for four persons: HK$9,029
• Junior Harbourview Suite (with an extra bed) + an InterContinental Harbourview Room for 5 persons: HK$10,529

Upgrade your stay:

• Executive Suite for HK$2,000
• Deluxe Suite: HK$4,000

The Girls' Getaway Package is inclusive of:

• Buffet Breakfast at Harbourside Restaurant
• Afternoon Champagne Tea Set in the Lobby Lounge
• “Cosmo or Bellini” Cocktails served in your suite upon check-in
• Late Check-out until 2:00pm
• 35% discount at I-Spa for a la carte treatments (subject to 2 days' advance reservation and availability). Manicures, pedicures, waxing & Full Day Spa Package are not applicable. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with other I-Spa promotions.
• Ferragamo Bath Amenities
• The above prices are subject to 10% service charge.
• The package is subject to availability with a minimum of 2-days'advance reservation and must be booked directly with the hotel. When booking, please request “LEAP YEAR Girls' Getaway”.
• Rates for additional room nights (based on room with Harbourside breakfast) are available upon request.

For reservations, please call InterContinental Hong Kong at Tel: +852 2721 1211 Fax: +852 2739-4546 / E-mail: hongkong@ihg.com / www.hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com / www.intercontinental.com

How Leap Year Came To Be:

One earth year (ie: a complete orbit around the sun) does not take an exact number of whole days; it actually takes approximately 365.2422 days.

Before Julius Caesar came into power, people observed a 355-day calendar - with an extra 22-day month every two years. Caesar ordered his astronomer, Sosigenes, to simplify the calendar; and Sosigenes created the 365-day year with an extra day every four years to make up for the difference from the earth's complete orbit around the sun). This is how the 29 February was born.

The year is 365 days and almost a quarter long, but not exactly. Pope Gregory XIII and his astronomers  introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1582. According to this calendar, three leap days are lost every 400 years to make up for the discrepancy. 

Leap Year Legends

One of the most well-known of the leap-year marriage superstitions has its roots in Ireland, where women are advised to propose only on February 29 for good luck.

This is believed to have been introduced to balance the traditional roles of men and women in a similar way to how Leap Day balances the calendar.

According to the legend, St. Brigit of Kildare  who was a fifth-century Irish nun, asked St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, to grant permission for women to propose marriage after hearing complaints from single women whose suitors were too shy to propose. Initially, St. Patrick granted permission to propose only once every seven years, but at Brigid's insistence, he allowed proposals every leap day. The folk tale suggested that Brigid then immediately proposed to Patrick, but he refused, kissing her on the cheek and offering a silk gown to soften the blow. The Irish tradition therefore dictates that any man refusing a woman's leap-day proposal must give her a silk gown.

In some places, Leap Day has been known as “Bachelors' Day” for the same reason. A man was expected to pay a penalty, such as a gown or money, if he refused a marriage proposal from a woman on Leap Day.

In many European countries, especially in the upper classes of society, tradition dictates that any man who refuses a woman's proposal on February 29 has to buy her 12 pairs of gloves. The intention was for women to wear the gloves to hide the embarrassment of not having an engagement ring. During the middle ages there were laws governing this tradition.

Women in Finland were advised to propose only on leap year day, February 29, for good luck. If the boyfriend refused; he was required to pay her a "fine" which would cover the cost of enough fabric to make a skirt.

In Scotland, an unmarried Queen Margaret allegedly created a law in 1288 allowing women to propose on leap year day. However, the woman proposing had to wear a red petticoat under her dress to warn her “intended suitor” that she planned to pop the question.  

Legend or folklore, February 29th continues to be Leap Year Day; an extra day in the calendar to spend however you like. What better way to enjoy the extra day that gathering your friends for a pampering and indulgent get-away at InterContinental Hong Kong!

InterContinental Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

www.hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com / www.intercontinental.com

Tel: (852) 2721 1211 / Fax: (852) 27394546 / E-mail: hongkong@ihg.com

Please click here for a selection of room and hotel images.

For a full selection of hotel images, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/InterContinentalHongKong

For further press information, please contact:

Carole L Klein

Executive Director of PR & Communications

InterContinental Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 2313-2335 / Fax: (852) 2721-5964 

E-mail: carole.klein@ihg.com