Everyone knows that Saint Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a day of love, but not everyone knows it was originally only for romantic, get-married-and-start-a-family love. Today, we mostly remember not just lovers, but friends, family, and often even acquaintances. While the current state of affairs is certainly true in most Western countries, it isn’t true in them all – until fairly recently. For example, in both Italy and France, the countries practically reverberated with festivities and celebrations; young couples willfully met and professed their love for each other right at these parties. Often, they were married off…but unfortunately, not always happily. It got so bad that the French and Italian governments actually had to step in and ban these huge, nationwide feasts that left families in such disarray.
European Valentine
France and Italy, of course, were not the only countries that indulged in what would be considered present-day madness, however romantic their intentions: in Britain, young women were certain that Valentine’s Day brought with it some magic, such that a woman would be asked by the man of whom she dreamt for her hand in marriage precisely on the 14th. Some even believed that the very first man they happened to see on Valentine’s Day would be the one they eventually married. It is no wonder that many relationships ended badly, despite great pains she took to see the one she desired first.
Despite the above “foolishness”, love still plays a central and dominant role on Valentine’s Day, as it should. Couples worldwide choose to tie the knot on that day, an ode to times past and present. The added delight that the centuries have brought is the love showered on friends and family, which was unheard of centuries ago, in the form of Valentine’s Day jokes, dear regards, and outright love.
Roman Valentine (Greek First)
Yet another relic of the Day of Love is the godling Cupid, from the Romans and Greeks (in Greek mythology, Cupid was known as Eros). He flew around on wings with magic bow and arrows, often at the behest of the gods, shooting man and god alike to make them fall in love with whatever they saw next. A potentially disastrous situation, which usually tended to work out in the myths – though not always!
Around the world, Valentine’s Day customs flourish still; in present-day England, for example, mailboxes are filled to the brim with valentines – there is of course a similar situation in the United States, of course, though not quite as pronounced. The Danish adore their white snowdrops (an informal name for a type of flower), whereas Germany and Mexico and America stick with red roses. By far, Valentine’s Day cards are the most popular gifts in these countries, and will probably remain so as an ode to that pious priest of long ago.
Sources
- Holidays: Valentine's Day, Julie Murray, published ABDO Publishing Company(2003)
- Valentine's Day by Natalie M. Rosinsky, published Compass Point Books
Christina Thomas - Christina Thomas is a physics grad student who has recently taken up an interest in internet article marketing, file sharing and web ...
