email doing the rounds at work - You?ll be staggered to know more than £500 million will be spent in the UK on cards, flowers and chocolates this Valentine?s Day.
No one seems entirely sure about the origins of Valentine?s Day ? in Roman times February 14 was a holiday to honour Juno the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15, the Feast of Lupercalia would begin.
On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia (Feb 14), the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Every young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and they would become partners for the duration of the festival. Sometimes the pairing lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and eventually marry.
Other people believe Valentine?s Day is associated with one of three Catholic saints, one of whom was martyred on February 14 for refusing to give up Christianity. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.
Whatever the truth, it?s become a day for lovers and in the UK has some odd traditions associated with it. On Valentine?s Day:
§ Spring traditionally begins because it?s allegedly the day birds choose their mates. In parts of Sussex, Valentine?s Day was called 'the Birds' Wedding Day'
§ the first eligible man an unmarried woman saw would be her future husband
§ if a girl wrote her boyfriends? names on pieces of paper, wrapped them in clay and then dropped the clay into water, the piece of paper which surfaced first would carry the name of her husband-to-be, and
§ if a woman saw a robin flying overhead, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a rich person.
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my sons made heart shaped gifts at school holiday club yesterday. my eight year old gave me the card/gift. my nine year old has taken his to school for [i]kirsten.[/i] i bet they spend xmas at HER parents when they get married.
i cut their packed lunch sandwiches into heart shapes. Tonight, i'll do the same for the pizza for tea.