Traditionally only men could propose marriage, not women. Under the custom of the time, February 29 was ignored as a non-day. Since it was not a real day St. Patrick reasoned that traditions did not apply. So when St. Bridget complained that women had to wait too long to be asked to marry, he said that on every February the 29th, women could propose. Which she promptly did, to St. Patrick. His answer was “Um, no”.