Does Anyone Really Propose on Proposal Day?

In case you haven't heard, March 20th is the day when the stars align for lovers everywhere -- literally, it's the vernal equinox, the best possible day to get down on one knee and pop the question ... or something like that. In other words, it's Proposal Day, a holiday created by John Michael O'Loughlin as a chance to get all those procrastinators in long-term relationships to go ahead and take the plunge. Or maybe it's just written in the stars.

So, does it actually work? Are you more likely to get a yes if you propose on Proposal Day? To answer this question, I went to the founder himself, John O'Loughlin. According to data that O'Loughlin has collected over the years, Proposal Day has been a resounding success.

How did Proposal Day come to be? "Decades ago," O'Loughlin told Holidash, "one of my cousins had been in a very long-term relationship with a man, and all of us in the family were wondering when he'd pop the question to her... Well, sir, my cousin waited in vain for years before moving on with her life. And, it seemed to me, that there are some who really need to have it spelled out for them..." And so O'Loughlin marked off a day for hesitant suitors to make the commitment.

But has it worked? "My best estimate,"O'Loughlin says,"of the number of marriage proposals made each Proposal Day is fifty thousand."Not bad really. But, he adds, the biggest and most important number here is "one," as in "one successful marriage proposal," and of course finding the one to spend your life with.

With 50,000 successful hookups each year, there must be some standout stories from Proposal Day. O'Loughlin has one particular favorite:"The radio DJ who decided to devote his entire show to discussing the holiday, and had his steady girlfriend show up at the station with roses and champagne and a romantic marriage proposal for him (on Proposal Day, either the girl or the guy can proposal marriage!!!) He said 'yes' live on the air." Now that's romantic.

So you see folks, it works! Proposal Day not only inspires thick-sculled men to finally see the light, it holds the power to make women supercede the traditional, male-dominated marriage proposal hierarchy. Dudes, you've officially been put on notice: Propose now or you may lose your chance.

However, O'Loughlin did issue this disclaimer to prospective proposers: "This holiday is meant to be used as the 'heavy jumbo' offense of the Washington Redskins was used years ago.....when a ball (or a relationship) is just short of the goal line (engaged to be married) and the objective is a play that will carry the ball the remaining one, two, or three yards that separate the team (person proposing marriage) from the goal line (engaged to be married!)."

In other words, Proposal Day not a hail Mary or fake punt, and it is especially not a statue of liberty play -- you can decipher what each of those football metaphors represent for yourself; I'm just a writer.In any case, take this seriously -- once she (or you) say yes, it's for keeps.

So now we're wondering if some famous bachelors will take the plunge this year. Our money's on England's Prince William -- let's see you pop the question, Wills. You've got until March 20 to get it together.