With Valentine’s Day approaching, I’m reminded of the days when the holiday represented chalky heart candies and “friendship” cards.
When I was attending Our Lady of Victory School in North Minneapolis in the 1960’s, whenever Valentine’s Day rolled around mom always prepared me for it by giving me small cards to exchange handing me boxes of Sweethearts — the heart-shaped sugar candies that had messages such as “Be Mine”, “Kiss Me”, “True Love”, “Miss You”, or “I’m Yours.”
“Um, Mom — I’m eight and I’m not gonna hand out “love you” cards and candies to my classmates — ew.”
Especially since we just did “art” in school where we made “love hearts” out of paper mache and colored paper while writing sappy messages on them in preparation for Valentine’s Day.
Ugh. I just wanted recess to come. (It was always about “me.”)
As I got older and girls suddenly became an acceptable distraction, flowers and jewelry became substitutes for candies and cards. I tell you, as I became an adult, in a flash the February holiday became the second most important date on the calendar next to her birthday.
It is never to be skipped or forgotten — I learned that lesson quickly.
Knowing the importance of the “love” day I even braided the holiday with a proposal to my girlfriend at the time when I got her balloons, flowers and an engagement ring back in the early 90s.
Win. Win.
So, do you know the full story behind Valentine’s Day? Below is information I gleaned off the internet.
Legend has it the story of Valentine’s Day is based on the martyrdom of a Catholic priest named Valentine, who was executed by the Roman Emperor Claudius II in the third century. During that time, the Roman Emperor outlawed marriage for young men because he believed they were better soldiers without wives and families.
Valentine thought the law was unsavory and unbiblical, so he defied Claudius II by performing weddings for young lovers. He was subsequently imprisoned and tortured for his actions.
Legend says that Valentine healed the blindness of the emperor’s jailer’s daughter, Julia, with his prayers. He then wrote a note to Julia on the night before his execution, signing it “Love, from your Valentine”.
At that time he gained a reputation as the patron saint of lovers
Valentine was beheaded on February 14.
To celebrate the martyrdom of St. Valentine, Pope Gelasius officially eradicated the festival of Lupercalia in the late 5th century A.D. and declared February 14 a day of remembrance for St. Valentine.
Formal messages, or “valentines”, began appearing in the 1500s. Commercially printed valentines were used by the late 1700s. The first commercial valentines in the United States were printed in the mid-1800s.
The holiday is associated with love, companionship, and true friendship.
Other traditions
Cupid, the Roman god of love, is often depicted on Valentine’s Day cards. Birds are also a symbol of the day because it was thought that the avian mating season begins in mid-February. Traditional gifts include candy and flowers, particularly red roses.
The best part of Valentine’s Day is the fact it’s a holiday that celebrates a bond, a union, a love or a friendship. It’s the partnership of two hearts between two or more people.
For me, Valentine’s Day has evolved from “ew” to “we”.
