So, it’s mid January, and St Valentine’s Day is merely a
month away. I always think Valentine’s cheers us up as one of the first Spring
rituals, so the seasons are moving on. But who was Valentine?
There are several stories associated with this day, not
least the fact that there may be three St Valentines, all of whom were martyrd
for their cause, and all could be associated with the Romance to which we
attach his day. One popular theory is that Valentine was a third century
priest, who, during the reign of Claudius II who had banned marriage in the
belief that unmarried men made better soldiers, defied this ban and continued
to perform marriages, and was put to death.
Another story was possibly of the same person, who, while in
gaol awaiting his death, had fallen in love with the gaoler’s daughter, who
visited him, and before his death wrote her a letter signing it, ‘from your
Valentine’.
The date could be from the date of his death, or it could
coincide with the Roman festival of fertility called Lupercalia, in an attempt
to ‘Christianise’ a pagan rite. Over the centuries, St Valentine’s Day has held
a strong association with love and romance…and of course, marriage proposals!
The strong symbol of romance is of course the heart, and
this, along with flowers is widely recognised as the ideal gift for Valentine’s
Day. (along with wine, chocolate and so on) We see many, many hearts along our
High streets at this time of year, but a handmade heart just cannot be beaten
for a personal, extra special and unique gift for your loved one. Here is a selection from
Folksy. I hope you like them.
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