- 8 February
- Day two of Valentine week
- A day to share your feelings
Where it began
Asking for a hand in marriage is an old custom found in almost every culture. In many places families met first and the couple's elders made the match.
The engagement ring has a long story. Romans used rings to mark a promise, and in 1477 Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy, one of the first known diamond engagement rings.
It is part of Valentine week, the seven days from 7 February to 14 February that young people in India and nearby lands keep, one theme a day.
How it grew over time
Ancient Rome
Rings are given as a sign of a marriage promise.
1477
Archduke Maximilian gives Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring.
20th century
Kneeling with a ring becomes a well known way to propose.
Recent decades
Propose Day joins Valentine week among young people in South Asia.
How it is celebrated in different places
India
Young people share their feelings with flowers, cards and a ring or a small gift.
Europe and North America
Many proposals happen on Valentine's Day or at Christmas.
Around the world
Some families still meet first, keeping the old custom of asking the elders.
Propose Day moments
Propose Day today
Today some people plan a quiet dinner, some write a letter, and some simply say the words in person. The point is to be honest and kind.
