Leap years have long earned the glory of periods filled with dangers and troubles. However, the two following them differ by a far from ideal reputation. According to popular superstition, 2024 will be the year of the widow, and 2026 will be considered the year of the widower. There are several reasons why you should be afraid of them, they are based on different factors, while there are ways to protect yourself in difficult times.
Historical Background
In February 2011, the UN General Assembly established a memorable date - it was officially called International Widows Day. Since then, it has been celebrated annually on June 23rd.This decision was dictated by the desire to draw public attention to the situation of women who were left without husbands who died in armed conflicts.
However, before that, there was already an unofficial allocation of certain years, during which there were much more widows than in similar periods. Similar trends were associated with various negative events:
- wars;
- genocide;
- economic crises;
- natural disasters;
- local armed conflicts;
- revolutions;
- man-made disasters;
- epidemics.
The next widower year after 2024 is expected in 2026. There is an opinion that more women die in the next leap year, and more men die the year after.Adherents of such a theory diligently reinforce it with historical facts, sometimes richly embellished with their own imagination. Another part of people do not believe in such coincidences, but believe that it is unreasonable to completely ignore warning signs.
Year of the Widow
According to popular belief, it comes immediately after the leap year, so the widow's year does not directly threaten 2024. For the next one, any negative events are not excluded - both on a global scale and concerning a specific person. Such fears are based on the analysis of the course of previous historical events. In the 20th century, women often remained widows during these periods. What are the revolutions in 1905 and 1917 worth, the First World War, the terrible 1937, the victorious 1945, when people were dying after the capitulation of the Nazis. The memory of generations is alive, so many people still subconsciously fear the onset of such periods.
Year of the Widower
Second after leap year. The prophecies fear that men may become widowed because their spouses die prematurely. This superstition is not accompanied by vivid examples and facts. Statistical data on this issue is also not available, however, some tension regarding future events still remains.
Unlike the year of the black widow coming after 2024, when women can be left alone as a result of the death of their spouses, 2026 is preparing loneliness for some men, not only in connection with tragic events. It is believed that they may lose their life partner for more prosaic reasons - for example, because of a divorce. More information about which periods are considered by the people to be the most dangerous for spouses is shown in the table.
| Leap Year | Widower | Widower |
| 2024, 2028, 2032, 2036 | 2025, 2029, 2033, 2037 | 2026, 2030, 2034, 2038 |
How to protect yourself
If future spouses are superstitious enough, but plan to enter into an official marriage, they should listen to popular experience. It is much easier not to succumb to the evil spells of unfavorable periods of time, strictly following the established wedding traditions:
- the groom should definitely pay a ransom for his beloved bride in order to appease the spirits that protect the marriage family and the family hearth;
- a girl in a wedding dress should cover her face with a veil. Our ancestors believed that marriage, leading to leaving the father's house, symbolizes death - the bride passes from one life to another, resurrecting in her husband's house;
- you should not refuse to participate in the wedding celebration of witnesses - "friend" and "friend" have always been considered the protectors of a young family and helpers in building family happiness.
The thoughtless use of rituals is not a panacea for possible problems and does not guarantee a strong and friendly family if the newlyweds themselves do not do everything possible for this.
It's good if the bride gets married adorned with family jewels that are passed down with blessings from generation to generation. Their positive energy will help strengthen the union being created. When love is real, and the bride and groom are ready to work hard to create a happy union, there is probably no need to postpone a joyful event and not get married or not marry because of superstition. But if doubts still bother you, it may be right to postpone the celebration for a while.
Wedding signs
To make the new union prosperous, you can listen to advice on how to organize a wedding celebration:
- When setting a wedding date, it's a good idea to check astrological predictions and choose the most auspicious day.
- Difficult periods require restraint and modesty from people. It is better not to throw a feast for the whole world, but to limit yourself to a feast in the circle of your closest relatives and friends.
- When celebrating the first three anniversaries, the same tablecloth that was used at the wedding should be laid on the festive table.
- In order for the financial well-being to flourish in the family, and the first child does not take long to wait, the young husband needs to put a coin in his shoes. Let her stay there until the end of the celebration.
Statistical data, coupled with common sense, suggests not to take negative predictions seriously and not to let other people's superstitions overshadow family life. However, any belief is based on deep folk memory and centuries-old life experience. Perhaps it is worth heeding the warnings of our ancestors and once again not angering Heaven so that family life will be happy for many decades.
