With Valentine's Day February 14, let's examine some history behind this day and what makes it so special. The featured article below is from Micki Peluso, author of ...And the Whippoorwill Sang.
How do I
Love Thee
by Micki
Peluso
“Good morrow, ‘tis St. Valentine's Day,
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February 14th sometimes signifies the first day of Lent,
depending upon the date of Easter, and is also Admission Day in Arizona. Most
people however, celebrate the day by sending comic or heartfelt Valentines to
family, friends and lovers. People seem to delight in St. Valentine’s Day, as
florists, candy stores, boutiques and card shops do a rallying business
providing heart-shaped novelties of all variety. Chocolate, long known for
having properties that produce a euphoric feeling similar to the bittersweet
emotion of love, seems an appropriate gift for St. Valentine’s Day.
The origin of the holiday is uncertain, but St. Valentine
actually honors two Saints of the same name. One was a Roman priest martyred
during the reign of the Emperor Claudius, the other, a martyred Bishop of Interamna. They were both buried in the Flaminian Way, which was later named
the Gate of St. Valentine. Today the gate is known as Porta Del Popolo — the
Gate of the People. The accounts of these men's lives are legendary, based on
sparse historical fact. It is possible, researchers agree, that the legends
denote different versions of the martyrdom of only one person. St. Valentine’s
Day, as it is known today, is a lovers' Festival, bearing no relation to these
legends.
Saint Valentine receives a rosary from the Virgin, by David Teniers III |
One theory as to how the name Valentine came to be applied
to the day is founded on the belief in England that birds begin 'dating' on
February 14. Chaucer, in his “Parliament of Foules," says it like this:
“for this was Seynt Valentyne’s day. When every [M1] foul cometh to choose his
mate." Those disagreeing with this claimed that the connection between
lovers and St. Valentine stems from a similarity between the Norman word
“galantin," meaning a lover of woman, and the name of the saint. Still
another theory contends that the lover’s custom dates back to the pagan Roman feast of Lupercalia occurring in mid-February. Young Roman men and women placed
their names in a love urn from which their names were drawn at random. During
the upcoming year, the young man would be the escorts of the women whose names
were matched to their own.
The Christian clergy objected to this pagan custom and
substituted the names of saints. Each person, the clergy hoped would strive to
emulate the saint drawn for them. The drawings were held on February 14, the
feast of St. Valentine. Yet the drawing of names by young people on St.
Valentine's Day continued long after the Christianization of pagan rites had
been abandoned. The boy and girl paired by the drawing adopted the practice of
giving presents to each other. Later the boy only gave to the girl; so started
the custom of sending Valentines to loved ones.
St. Valentine's Day was widely celebrated in WilliamShakespeare's time, as this quote from Hamlet illustrates:
All in the
morning betime,
And I am made at
your window,
To be your
Valentine."
Paper Valentines with inscribed sentiments date from the
16th century. The first printed Valentine, issued in 1669, was probably
inspired by “A Valentine Writer”, a book of verses offering help to those not
articulate enough to pen their own rhymes. In England, the introduction of
Penny postage and envelopes in 1840 popularized the exchange of Valentines and
ornamental lace paper Valentines were in great demand. In the U. S., crude
woodcut Valentines were fashioned by Robert H. Elton and Thomas W. Strong of
New York, but most people preferred the lace paper cards imported from England.
With the establishment of the Post Office, the mail became swamped
with Valentines each February. Comic Valentines, as well as coarse vulgar ones,
cost only one cent. In the early 1900s, the Chicago post office rejected 25,000
cards on the grounds that they were improper for mail delivery. By the 1930s
Valentine cards were primarily an activity for small children, who were taught
to make the cards and decorations in kindergarten.
The Early History of Valentine's Day Cards |
On one particularly gruesome Valentine's Day, the streets ran red with blood and the message given was not one of love. This notorious incident was “The St. Valentines Massacre," in Chicago on February 14, 1929. Al Capone’s gang, disguised as policemen, forced seven members of the rival “Bugs Moran” gang to stand against the garage wall with their arms raised. Capone’s mobsters methodically gunned the rival gang down.
en.wikipedia.org |
In recent years, St. Valentine's Day continues to gain
popularity, as lovers and children eagerly await its arrival; perhaps because
it breaks the monotony of the long winter. However, not all people recognize
the holiday. One husband whose name I will not mention, chooses to totally
ignore St. Valentine's Day, even when it falls three days after his wedding
anniversary — but that's another story.
Thank you, Micki, for providing such a great historical account for St. Valentine's Day. You can visit Micki at her blog A Writer's Journey. Her book, ...And the Whippoorwill Sang, has received rave 5-star reviews!
NEXT on the Calendar: Do a Grouch a Favor Day!
Hard to believe there is so much history all to do with one loved up day :-)
ReplyDeleteAmazing, isn't it? That is just one reason why I am so fascinated by history! The more you know, the more there is behind that which you know :-)
DeleteKattermonran, That's because our holidays go so far back in historry with many related to the druids and pagans of the British Isles. Thanks for reading it.
ReplyDeleteMicki
Dear Sharla, thank you so much for posting this Valentine Post on your blog. The pictures make all the diffeence. It looks simply beautiful.
ReplyDeleteFascinating post! Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteVery informative post Sharla! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteFascinating. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the nice comments from everyone. The origin of many of our holidays are fascinating, especially they way they have survived centuries with some change but the basic story is the same.
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