Valentine’s Day – A Holiday Of Love!!
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There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine’s Day. Some experts state that it originated from Saint Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries.
Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. During the days when Valentine was imprisoned, he fell in love with his jailer’s blind daughter who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed ‘From your Valentine,’ an expression that is still in use today.
In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour Saint Valentine.
The oldest known valentine that is still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. This first Valentine greeting was written by him in 1415 and is a part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.
Cupid, another symbol of St.Valentine’s Day, became associated with it because he was the son of Venus, the Roman God of love and beauty. He would play matchmaker to Roman and Greek mortals. His angelic and innocent physique transcends pagan myths and he continues to shoot lovers with his arrows, especially on this special day of the year.
Ancient Romans honored the goddess Juno on February 14th. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.
In the Middle ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.
Some Valentine’s Day Traditions and Superstitions
Hundreds of years ago in England, many children used to dress up as adults on St. Valentine’s Day. They went singing from home to home. One verse they sang was ;
Good morning to you, valentine
Curl your locks as I do mine
Two before and three behind
Good morning to you, valentine
In Wales, wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favorite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, “You unlock my heart!”
Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry, As you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry the person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off.
It is believed that a girl can tell what kind of man her future husband is going to be by the kind of bird she first sees on St. Valentines Day.
Blackbird – clergyman or priest
Robin Redbreast – sailor
Goldfinch (or any yellow bird) – a rich man
Sparrow – farmer
Bluebird – a happy man
Crossbill – an argumentative man
Dove – a good man
Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind. Count the seeds that remain on the stem. That is the number of children you will have.
If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will also know how many children you will have.
Happy Valentine’s Day!!