In the past, it was considered unacceptable for the woman to propose marriage to the man except during leap year. The origin of this tradition goes back centuries to Ireland, when Saint Brigid of Kildare made a deal with Saint Patrick to allow women to propose to men. At first, he wanted to allow it one day every seven years, but she convinced him to make it every four years. The concept spread to Scotland where, if the man declined, he had to pay a fine which might be a silk dress, gloves or other gift.
By the time the tradition came to Ridgeway, it had been lengthened out to a leap year. Ridgeway youth celebrated with leap year parties where the girls would invite the boys. In 1920, the girls of the Ridgeway dancing club hosted a year year party and dance at the Ridgeway hotel. The girls met at the hotel before the party and drew for their partners, then they went out to find their partner and bring him back to the hotel for the dance. They hired an orchestra from Albany and provided refreshments of “pressed chicken sandwiches, sweet pickles, coffee and mints were served and all present voted the evening one of real pleasure.”
In 1928, the Epworth League held a social at the home of Mr. And Mrs. J.A. Linthacum where the girls of the league wrote out proposals and the boys answered them. The one with the best proposal and one with the best answer were then married in a mock wedding officiated by “Preacher” Carl Rinehart and the groom wore the veil instead of the bride. “From all reports, a very hilarious time was experienced and enjoyed.”
