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valentine |
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| Roman Times |
 A
Pagan fertility festival dedicated to the pastoral god Lupercalia was celebrated
on February 15th. During this festival large crowds would go to caves and
sacrifice a goat or dog. Taking the blood from the sacrificial knife they
would rub it on the foreheads of two good family youths. Parts of the hide
of the sacrificial animal would be cut in to long strips call Februa (a
derivative of February). The youths would adorn the remaining hide and
run though the town streets with these strips hitting people in their paths.
Particularly infertile women begging for the wiping to increase their fertility.
In the evening the names of young mature girls and boys would be
drawn from a love urn. These pairs were encouraged to pair off as
lovers. |
| Christianity |
 The
Christian Church in 496 AD, in it's practice of incorporating pagan holidays
into christian holidays, used the Festival of St. Valentine to replace
the Lupercalia ritual of February 15th. St. Valentine had the reputation
as a friend of lovers and sweethearts for performing secret christian marriages.
Marriages were forbidden by Emperor Claudis II of the Goth. He believed
it prevented young men from being good soldiers and upon hearing of St.
Valentines defiance had him imprisoned. While in prison, he healed a guard's
young blind daughter through prayer for her sight. The whole family converted
to christianity. The Emperor furious with his powers had St. Valentine
tortured, beaten with clubs and beheaded on February 14, around 270 AD.
It is believed that St. Valentine and the young woman he healed fell deeply
in love. Before his death he was reported to
have sent her a final love note signed "Your Valentine". In 1969, St. Valentine
was removed from the Christian Calendar, but in name, he continues to be
an icon of devotion. |
Medieval |
 The
earliest recognition to our current celebration of Valentine Day appeared
through out Medieval Europe, particularly France and England. February
14th was believed to be the date that birds (particularly lovebirds) selected
their life mates. The earliest reported Valentine card was written by a
captured French Knight sent from Prison to his wife. In early historical
times it is believed that the girls were the early presenters of flowers
as a symbol of their love. |
Victorian Times |
 The
Victorian era brought mass production printing technology and symbols such
as cherubs, cupids, hearts and flowers were developed to a fine art and
replaced the religious icons of the holiday. Children started making Valentine
scrapbooks with lacy doilies and printed pictures. In the 1840's, Esther
A. Howland, produced one of the first commercial American valentines, selling
over $5,000 worth. Valentine's Day, only to become a huge stationary industry
and post office revenue generator unlike any other holiday thus far. During
the late 1800's "The Language of Flowers" was published in France. This
book fueled a morse code of love. Single stem became a powerful signal
system for lovers. But be a little wary of following this complicated "Victorian
Language". Body language of the giver and receiver accompany the exchange
of special flowers makes this whole encoded exchange very risky in contemporary
times. |
Modern Times |
| Today the holiday is shared by children and lovers a
like. Classrooms across the nation will exchange small Valentines without
any feelings of romantic love, but with an appetite for red heart lollipops,
candied hearts and chocolates. Teachers are the
number one cards reciever each Valentines Day. But for adult couples Valentine's
Day is usually not satisfied by a card. It is serious business with
lasting romantic consequences. 40 million roses will be given on this holiday.
40 billion Valentines will be delivered. And hopefully after all this frivolity
couples will be encourage to daily celebrate tender moments and lots of
love. |
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