When is Valentine’s Day?
Only
2011 – When is Valentine’s Day is on a Monday.
Malaysia Warns Muslims of Valentine’s Day “Trap”
Muslims make up nearly two-thirds of Malaysia’s 28 million population.
Malaysia has stepped up a campaign to stop Muslims celebrating Valentine’s Day, Will and Guy have determined – labelling it a “trap” that could encourage immoral behaviour. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said celebration of romantic love was ‘not suitable’ for Muslims. Valentine’s Day is synonymous with “vice activities” said Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz Department of Islamic Development.
Several Malaysian states are planning to carry out checks on hotels to stop young couples having intimate premarital relationships.
The anti-Valentine’s Day campaign by the country’s Islamic authorities goes back to a fatwa issued in 2005.
Leaflets have been distributed to Muslim university students urging them to avoid celebrations on 14th February.
First Valentine Ever
A lasting Legacy of 500-year-old Love
Love it or hate it, even the most hardened anti-Romeo will be hard pressed to avoid Valentine’s Day this year.
Here is a letter which is on show at the British Library. It is a letter, written from a young woman to her love, and is the first mention of the word Valentine in the English language.
The letter shows they were no different to us, write Will and Guy. They had the same loves, desires and financial problems.
In 1477 Margery wrote a letter to her John pleading with him not to give her up, despite her parents’ refusal to increase her dowry.
Addressing her ‘ryght welebeloued Voluntyne’ (right well-beloved Valentine), she promised to be a good wife, adding, ‘Yf that ye loffe me as Itryste verely that ye do ye will not leffe me” ‘ (If you love me, I trust.. you will not leave me).
While romantics 534 years later might celebrate Valentine’s Day with fine dining, chocolates and flowers, Margery is left pleading with her love not to leave her while pledging her heart over all ‘earthly things’.
She promises her undying love, ‘Myne herte me bydds ever more to love yowe truly’ (My heart me bids ever more to love you truly), and speaks of her ailing body and heart over her fiance’s continuing silence.
However, modern-day lovers be reassured, like any self-respecting fairytale romance the heart did rule the head and, despite her father’s stubbornness over her dowry, Margery did marry her knight and the couple had a son, William, in 1479. Margery died in 1495, John in 1503.
While her letter is also written on paper, there is one key difference. She didn’t write it herself we have learned. It would have been dictated to a man who would have written it for her. However, says Julian Harrison, curator, ‘The fact that she isn’t writing the letter doesn’t mean she can’t write, it means she can afford someone to write for her. People have assumed that people in the past were illiterate, but actually levels of literacy may have been higher than we think.’
A marvellous tale with which to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
The Legend of St Valentine
St Valentine’s day history goes back to Roman times. The emperor Claudius II was a student of human nature and way back in AD 287 he calculated that single men made braver soldiers than married men. Therefore, as Claudius had absolute power, he dictated than no soldier should marry. A Roman called Valentinus thought that this was rough justice and secretly married soldiers who had a sweetheart.
When Claudius discovered that Valentinus had defied his decree he threw Valentinus into jail. Whilst incarcerated, Valentinus fell in love with the gaoler’s daughter and sent her the first ever card – from your sweet Valentine.
St Valentine
Much later, in AD 496 Pope Gelasius, chose 14 February as the day to honour and remember Saint Valentine. Unfortunately, tantalisingly little is known about these early origins of St Valentine.
In the history of St Valentine’s day, it is the 17th century which was the most important and truly romantic era. The 14th of February became important as a day to exchange love notes by sending poems and gifts. Sometimes dances and small festivals were held.
In modern times, 1416, Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent one of the earliest Valentines, from his imprisonment in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt. He sent several Valentine poems to his wife in France.
Valentine Shock
Valentine Food – Raspberry Tart
P.S. If you have an example of St Valentine’s Day history, then please send it to us.
St Valentine’s Day Sunday 14th February 2010
2010 – When Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday.
When is Valentine’s Day?
Only
The Legend of St Valentine
St Valentine’s day history goes back to Roman times. The emperor Claudius II was a student of human nature and way back in AD 287 he calculated that single men made braver soldiers than married men. Therefore, as Claudius had absolute power, he dictated than no soldier should marry. A Roman called Valentinus thought that this was rough justice and secretly married soldiers who had a sweetheart.
When Claudius discovered that Valentinus had defied his decree he threw Valentinus into jail. Whilst incarcerated, Valentinus fell in love with the gaoler’s daughter and sent her the first ever card – from your sweet Valentine.
Valentine Shock
Rosette Nebula – Especially for Valentines
P.S. If you have an example of St Valentine’s Day history, then please send it to us.
St Valentine’s Day Tuesday 14th February 2012
When is Valentine’s Day?
Only
In 2012 Valentine’s Day is on a Tuesday.
The Legend of St Valentine
The history of St Valentine’s day goes back to Roman times. The emperor Claudius II was a student of human nature way back in AD 287, indeed he calculated that single men made braver Roman soldiers than married men. Therefore, as Claudius had absolute power, he dictated than no soldier should get wed. However, a Roman called Valentinus thought that this was rough justice and secretly married soldiers who had a sweetheart.
When Claudius discovered that Valentinus had defied his law he threw Valentinus into jail. Whilst in jail, Valentinus fell in love with his gaoler’s daughter and sent her the first ever card – from Valentine!
St Valentine
Later on, in AD 496 Pope Gelasius, chose February 14th as the day to remember St Valentine. Unfortunately, tantalisingly little is known about these early origins of St Valentine.
In the history of St Valentine’s day, it is the 17th century which was the most romantic era. The 14th of February became a day to exchange love notes by sending poems and gifts. Also dances and small festivals were held at this time.
In modern times, 1416, Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent one of the earliest Valentines, from his imprisonment in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt. He sent several Valentine poems to his wife in France.
Valentine Shock
Rosette Nebula – Especially for Valentines
Valentine’s Day Heart
: Please send us your pictures for Tuesday 14th February 2012
St Valentine’s Day Friday 14th February 2014
When is Valentine’s Day?
Only
2014 – When Valentine’s Day is on a Friday.
Happy Valentine
With the proliferation of smart phones, tablets and the like it’s now possible to get apps that will do almost anything for you. ‘Send a sexy text’ offers pre-written romantic texts to knock your partner off his/her feet. I liked this example quoted in ‘The Guardian’ (UK).
My Love
1st time I saw u I was scared 2 touch u.
1st time I touched u I was scared 2 kiss u.
1st time I kiss u I was scared 2 love u,
But now dat I love u im scared 2 lose u.
A Romantic Moment?
It was Valentine’s Day. Diana was feeling romantic but her husband, Harvey, was away from home at a business conference, so she sent him a text message:
“If you are sleeping, send me your dreams. If you are laughing, send me your smile.
If you are eating, send me a bite. If you are drinking send me a sip. If you are crying, send me your tears. I love you!”
Harvey, a typical down-to-earth, non -romantic male, replied,
“I am on the toilet. Please advise.”
The Legend of St Valentine
St Valentine’s day history goes back to Roman times. The emperor Claudius II was a student of human nature and way back in AD 287 he calculated that single men made braver soldiers than married men. Therefore, as Claudius had absolute power, he dictated than no soldier should marry. A Roman called Valentinus thought that this was rough justice and secretly married soldiers who had a sweetheart.
When Claudius discovered that Valentinus had defied his decree he threw Valentinus into jail. Whilst incarcerated, Valentinus fell in love with the gaoler’s daughter and sent her the first ever card – from your sweet Valentine.
St Valentine
Much later, in AD 496 Pope Gelasius, chose 14 February as the day to honour and remember Saint Valentine. Unfortunately, tantalisingly little is known about these early origins of St Valentine.
In the history of St Valentine’s day, it is the 17th century which was the most important and truly romantic era. The 14th of February became important as a day to exchange love notes by sending poems and gifts. Sometimes dances and small festivals were held.
In modern times, 1416, Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent one of the earliest Valentines, from his imprisonment in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt. He sent several Valentine poems to his wife in France.
Valentine Shock
The Heart is the Most Common Symbol of Romantic Love
Ancient cultures believed the human soul lived in the heart. Others thought it to be the source of emotions and intelligence. Some believed the heart embodied a man’s truth, strength and nobility. The heart may be associated with love because the ancient Greeks believed it was the target of Eros, known as cupid to the Romans. Anyone shot in the heart by one of Cupid’s arrows would fall hopelessly in love. Because the heart is so closely linked to love, its red colour is thought to be the most romantic.
P.S. If you have a St Valentine’s Day 2014 story, then please send it to us.
