When Valentine’s Day is on Sunday 14th of February 2010

2010 – When Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday.

• The Legend of St Valentine
• St Valentine
• Valentine Day Crafts and
  Customs

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

St Valentine ‘Not the saint of love’

Britain’s Roman Catholic Church is advising lovelorn singles to direct
their 14 February requests for love to St Raphael, rather than St Valentine.
Over the years St Valentine has come incorrectly to be associated with
finding love, the Church says.  He is the patron saint for those who
have already found their soul mate.  St Raphael is the patron saint for
happy encounters and it is to him those fearing the Valentine’s post should
properly direct their prayers.

Valentine Day Crafts and Customs

In Guy’s
home country of Wales wooden love spoons are made and given as presents on 14 February. Hearts, keys and keyholes feature as decorations on these carved spoons as and invitation to ‘unlock my
heart’.

Valentines day history in Medieval times saw the youth of the time wearing names drawn from a hat on their sleeves. Hence the modern expression ‘to wear your heart on your sleeve’
. This means that other people can easily see
what you are feeling.

If a young lady sees a sparrow on February 14th flying overhead it means that she will marry a poor man and be extremely happy. If she saw a robin she would marry a mariner. A goldfinch
seen by a woman meant that she would marry into riches.

St Valentine’s
commercialisation probably began with the making and selling of cards in the 18th century.  Women in the 18th century would
write men’s
names on paper, roll them in clay and place them in a bowl of water. The first paper to rise to
the surface would contain the name of a woman’s
true love.

Wise Words

Never have children, only grandchildren.
Gore Vidal

Rosette Nebula – Especially for Valentines

P.S. If you have an
example of St Valentine’s Day history, then please send
it to us.