Hello Friends!
Happy Saint Valentine's Day, or as friends might say to friends, Happy Galentine's Day {celebrated yesterday, but who's counting?}
Today, Valentine's Day is synonymous with couples and courtly love, but did you know that Saint Valentine was a 3rd century Roman saint who's martyrdom is marked on February 14th?
According to his hagiography, he was a Christian priest, possibly a bishop, who ministered to persecuted Christians of the Roman Empire. One of the legends behind his hagiography indicates that the night before his martyrdom, he wrote a letter to the daughter of the judge Asterius, which was signed "from your Valentine" which is, allegedly, the point from which romantic missives sprang.
Another account would have us believe he cut out paper hearts to distribute to persecuted Christians, giving rise to the heart shape now associated with the celebration of this day.
Yet another account has us believe the letter signed "from your Valentine" was sent to the daughter of his gaoler, having healed her from blindness.
However the celebration of the Patron Saint of Love reflects in your life, whether romantically or through friendship, the most important focus is love. Love that we should show for all our fellow humans; love for all the countless and various forms of life that shares this wonderful planet ; and love for the Earth.
Celebrating for many will be strange this year, and here we are on day four of an endless battering of gale force winds, with rain, snow, and ice, along with freezing cold temperatures, so I celebrate you, my friends, with love, nibbling on a large bar of my favourite white chocolate and strawberry Divine chocolate and sip from a pod of hot, rich, dark hot chocolate. The television provides our entertainment in the form of "Pride and Prejudice", the one with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.
Sending best wishes to you as well, Deborah, for a wonderful hearts Day (my preferred term). I appreciated reading your post about the origins of valentines. You are right on in stating that the important thing is love, not just in the romantic sense, but friendship is also vital. This year, as in others, we will celebrate the day at home with a home-cooked meal and of course a bit of chocolate. Hope your weather improves as ours is forecast to be snow and ice over the next couple of days. Stay warm and enjoy the movie!
ReplyDeleteDeb, to me Valentine's Day is a way to focus on Love. No matter the beginnings, love and kindness is what this weary world could use more of. It would be amazing if we would focus on love everyday. After having a special meal from the grill, Grayden and I cleaned, as best we could, the ice that is building up in the downspouts. Now, that's really romantic, but so necessary. Your chocolate bar sounds divine. I made a heart shaped chocolate cake for Grayden and Samuel. My Valentine to them! Stay warm and safe. xoxo
ReplyDeleteLovely post! I heard that St. Valentine secretly married a group of Roman soldiers during the night 14th? before they went to battle. At that time soldiers were to be single men. So it was illegal to marry them, and he went to jail for doing it.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Margot
Hi Deb, I will be short and sweet, as The Beetles so wisely stated, "All we need is love"!
ReplyDeleteKeep Warm, Darlene
It is good to have day to focus on love in all its forms - the origins of 'Valentines' are a bit dodgy aren't they - it is extraordinary how we humans love to concoct fantasy stories about so many things. As if life itself and the beauty of nature were not enough.
ReplyDeleteLots of love to you.
Now that's the perfect Valentine video! Ours got strange too, with the arrival of the toddlers. All good, though I was nervous with them in the house and masks and all. Rick's lovely dinner got made and served about two and a half hours too late (we were starved!) but it was worth it!
ReplyDeleteI doubt whether those persecuted would appreciate paper hearts. Martyn once bought me a packet of flower seeds for valentines day and said why buy them when you can have fun growing your own. Mmm?
ReplyDeleteLovely post - so sorry that I have only just spotted it. But fascinating information about St Valentine so thank you. I love that version of Pride and Prejudice :) It can't be beaten in my view. The chocolate sounds delicious and you are right about love being for friends and all life :)
ReplyDeleteI'm rather late in here. But, happy belated Valentine's Day... It sounds like you were enjoying it. Also, this was a great post.
ReplyDeleteI am terribly late to the party here -- behind on reading and commenting and all. But this is just the loveliest post. I love the story of the paper hearts. I hope that is true. And I can think of few better companions than Colin Firth on Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteSending all love -- because really, it shouldn't be just one day, but all days. And with it, my thanks for your wonderful comments, which always lift my day.