The History of Valentine's Day - Romance from Eros (Cupid), the Lupercalia, St. Valentine
a Valentine's menu a solo valentine chocolate Shakespeare on love
by Diana Serbe
You are feeling romantic, looking at greeting cards shaped like hearts and decorated with frills. Pink and reds are the colors of the day, bouquets of flowers fill offices and houses, boxes of the finest chocolates fly out of stores. It is Valentine's Day.
Ah, romance. But that is the tradition of today. In the history of Valentine's day we find an armed and unscrupulous boy attacking victims at random; ravening wolves howling in the night; a Christian martyr clubbed to death, then beheaded; birds warbling love songs; a young Danish girl singing in madness. This is the history of romance?
Let us Celebrate! It is St. Valentine's Day.
Eros or Cupid
In the beginning history of Valentine's day, we find our armed, unscrupulous boy. To the Greeks he was Eros (meaning sexual desire) , to the Romans he was Cupid (from cupido, meaning desire). Though the Greeks were more primal than the Romans and mythologized that this symbol of lust was born from Erebus (primordial darkness) and Nyx (night), both Greeks and Romans portrayed Eros/Cupid as a winged boy armed with bows and arrows. The Roman legend of Cupid and Psyche, recorded by Apuleius, is the best-known of many stories that surround this figure of romance
In the Roman legend, Cupid was the mischievous son of Venus, the most beautiful of all the goddesses. Much to Venus' dismay, however, a younger woman was being hailed for her beauty. This was Psyche (Greek for both butterfly and soul). Racked with jealousy, Venus told Cupid to shoot a dart of love into Psyche, but to make her fall in love with someone so low that she would be abased. Cupid, the dutiful son that all mothers want, set off to comply with his mother's wishes. Alas, poor Cupid, he accidentally pierced himself with one of his arrows and fell in love with Psyche.
Cupid became Psyche's unseen lover, for he met with her and never revealed himself. After years of rapture, Psyche, goaded by her sisters, wanted to see her lover. She tricked Cupid who became so irate that he fled. Psyche wandered the earth, looking for Cupid in vain. Finally, the great Zeus took pity on the girl, united her with Cupid and gave them permission to marry. As the writer of any romance knows, love does conquer all. They lived happily ever after, giving birth to a daughter whose name was Pleasure. The history of romance has begun.
The Lupercalia
Today we celebrate with bonbons, champagne, special meals, gifts of jewels, but Valentine's Day had it beginnings in pagan Rome in rites of sacrifice. This was called the Lupercalia. Not in recorded history, but in myth, the ancient city of Rome was founded by the twins, Romulus and Remus, who were nurtured by a she-wolf. On the Palatine, one of the Rome's seven hills, then ruled by Romulus, was the cave of Lucpercus where the she-wolf supposedly suckled the twins. Lupus means wolf in Latin, and this festival was held on the side of the Palatine where ravening wolves disturbed the shepherds' flocks. The rituals of the Lupercalia which are recorded as the beginning history of Valentine's day, were offered to the gods to protect the flocks, and to increase fertility.
The merry revels began with the sacrifice of a dog and several goats. Once death had appeased the gods, the priests of the ceremony cut strips of skin from the goats which they passed around to the young men gathered in attendance. These handsome lads, naked until the sacrifices were completed, covered themselves with pieces of fresh goat skin while also taking strips of skin in hand. They dipped the skins in the fragrant, fresh goat blood, then ran around the walls of the city, sprinkling blood at the fields to increase their fertility. Boys will be boys, of course, and they could not resist teasing the young women with a sprinkle or two from the bloody skin, the intent being to ward off sterility. The young married women of Rome were eager to receive this love-filled sprinkling of blood.
The pieces of skin were called februa and this day was named dies februatus or the day of purification. The aim of these festive events was to secure fruitfulness of land and flocks, which meant prosperity for the people. Legend holds that at the end of the revelry, the women would put their names in a large urn. The unmarried men would choose a name and the two would be paired for the coming year. This pagan festival was one of revelry and much drinking. Chocolate was not available to the ancient Romans.
St. Valentine - A Martyr for Love
Christianity took the ascendancy, the Catholic church frowning on pagan celebrations. Noting the popularity of the Lupercalia among the people, the Pope, in 494 AD, declared February 15th the feast of the Purification of the Virgin. He abolished the flaying of goat skins as a means of purification and gave a more sacramental significance to the rituals by placing, not the names of lusty young women, but the names of the saints in an urn. The history of Valentine's Day takes a turn toward purity. The young men drew the name of a saint and were then expected to emulate the saint whose name they had drawn. One might surmise the substitution of piety for romance was not an instant success.
During the reign of Claudius II, the pursuit of romance grew even more difficult. More warlike than romantic, Claudius' goal was to build an army for foreign wars, but met resistance as the young men did not want to leave their wives. In ire, Claudius decreed that there would be no more marriage.
A young priest named Valentine listened to the complaints of the young with compassion and with a plan. Though there are several legends surrounding Valentine, and more than one Italian city claims him, all agree that Valentine continued to marry young couples in secrecy and in stealth. All three legends say that Valentine was thrown in jail, but the fate of the kindly priest gives rise to variation. One legend says that he died in jail. Another says that Claudius had him clubbed to death, then beheaded. A third, more gentle one, says that he fell in love with the jailer's daughter and wrote her notes that were signed, "Your Valentine."
Whichever legend is true, Valentine's Day rose in popularity with the people. Though the course of true love may not run straight, it cannot be stopped. Giving in to popular demand, Pope Gelasius declared February 15th as the day to honor Valentine.
History of Valentine's Day in the Middle Ages
Warbling Birds
Chaucer verifies for us that the medieval Europeans believed February 15th to be the day the birds selected their mates. Now history is well recorded and documented. In his Parlement of Foules he wrote, "For this was Seynt Valentine's Day when every foul cometh ther to choose his mate." Just as the Romans drew the name of their sweetheart on Valentine's day, so also did the English and the French. In both countries, a young man would draw a name and then pin it on his sleeve, perhaps giving rise to the expression of 'wearing one's heart on one's sleeve.' The lovers would gift each other with treats and frequently end falling in love.
In all time, in all recorded history, love is love is love, the feeling we all want most, so the holiday increased in popularity. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was commonplace for lovers to send each other hand written notes stating their love. Great pondering and an attempt at originality went into these individual expressions of love, a burden on the true of heart who lacked poetic gifts. By the end of the century, advances in printing made it possible to purchase a printed card. The lover no longer had to discover an original way to state love. The first mass produced cards appeared in 1840 in America and the straining for originality was eased.
A Mad Young Danish Girl?
Why, that's Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet, garlanded with flowers and singing of St. Valentine's day in such a way as to shock all around her. click here for Ophelia's risqué mad song
AND NOW: Tell the one you love about your feelings. Borrow from the poet who has given us the most beautiful words ever written, and watch your own love soar:
click here for Shakespeare on love
Diana Serbe is a writer and the creator of In Mamas Kitchen. Click to meet Diana
Valentine's day is Feb 14. There are myths, not real stories. It is not related to any religion. It is just a day dedicated as hearts' day, lovers' day, or whatever. same like mother's day, father's day, and so on and so forth. zzzzzzzzz
Qatar's winter months are brimming with unmissable experiences, from the AFC Asian Cup 2023 to the World Aquatics Championships Doha 2024 and a variety of outdoor adventures and cultural delights.
Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a sweet escape into the world of budget-friendly Mango Sticky Rice that's sure to satisfy both your cravings and your budget!
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yes it is on 14th Feb u can wish ur love ones include ur parents but we should not use wrong way.
http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/SEASONS/valentine/Valentine.html
The History of Valentine's Day - Romance from Eros (Cupid), the Lupercalia, St. Valentine
a Valentine's menu a solo valentine chocolate Shakespeare on love
by Diana Serbe
You are feeling romantic, looking at greeting cards shaped like hearts and decorated with frills. Pink and reds are the colors of the day, bouquets of flowers fill offices and houses, boxes of the finest chocolates fly out of stores. It is Valentine's Day.
Ah, romance. But that is the tradition of today. In the history of Valentine's day we find an armed and unscrupulous boy attacking victims at random; ravening wolves howling in the night; a Christian martyr clubbed to death, then beheaded; birds warbling love songs; a young Danish girl singing in madness. This is the history of romance?
Let us Celebrate! It is St. Valentine's Day.
Eros or Cupid
In the beginning history of Valentine's day, we find our armed, unscrupulous boy. To the Greeks he was Eros (meaning sexual desire) , to the Romans he was Cupid (from cupido, meaning desire). Though the Greeks were more primal than the Romans and mythologized that this symbol of lust was born from Erebus (primordial darkness) and Nyx (night), both Greeks and Romans portrayed Eros/Cupid as a winged boy armed with bows and arrows. The Roman legend of Cupid and Psyche, recorded by Apuleius, is the best-known of many stories that surround this figure of romance
In the Roman legend, Cupid was the mischievous son of Venus, the most beautiful of all the goddesses. Much to Venus' dismay, however, a younger woman was being hailed for her beauty. This was Psyche (Greek for both butterfly and soul). Racked with jealousy, Venus told Cupid to shoot a dart of love into Psyche, but to make her fall in love with someone so low that she would be abased. Cupid, the dutiful son that all mothers want, set off to comply with his mother's wishes. Alas, poor Cupid, he accidentally pierced himself with one of his arrows and fell in love with Psyche.
Cupid became Psyche's unseen lover, for he met with her and never revealed himself. After years of rapture, Psyche, goaded by her sisters, wanted to see her lover. She tricked Cupid who became so irate that he fled. Psyche wandered the earth, looking for Cupid in vain. Finally, the great Zeus took pity on the girl, united her with Cupid and gave them permission to marry. As the writer of any romance knows, love does conquer all. They lived happily ever after, giving birth to a daughter whose name was Pleasure. The history of romance has begun.
The Lupercalia
Today we celebrate with bonbons, champagne, special meals, gifts of jewels, but Valentine's Day had it beginnings in pagan Rome in rites of sacrifice. This was called the Lupercalia. Not in recorded history, but in myth, the ancient city of Rome was founded by the twins, Romulus and Remus, who were nurtured by a she-wolf. On the Palatine, one of the Rome's seven hills, then ruled by Romulus, was the cave of Lucpercus where the she-wolf supposedly suckled the twins. Lupus means wolf in Latin, and this festival was held on the side of the Palatine where ravening wolves disturbed the shepherds' flocks. The rituals of the Lupercalia which are recorded as the beginning history of Valentine's day, were offered to the gods to protect the flocks, and to increase fertility.
The merry revels began with the sacrifice of a dog and several goats. Once death had appeased the gods, the priests of the ceremony cut strips of skin from the goats which they passed around to the young men gathered in attendance. These handsome lads, naked until the sacrifices were completed, covered themselves with pieces of fresh goat skin while also taking strips of skin in hand. They dipped the skins in the fragrant, fresh goat blood, then ran around the walls of the city, sprinkling blood at the fields to increase their fertility. Boys will be boys, of course, and they could not resist teasing the young women with a sprinkle or two from the bloody skin, the intent being to ward off sterility. The young married women of Rome were eager to receive this love-filled sprinkling of blood.
The pieces of skin were called februa and this day was named dies februatus or the day of purification. The aim of these festive events was to secure fruitfulness of land and flocks, which meant prosperity for the people. Legend holds that at the end of the revelry, the women would put their names in a large urn. The unmarried men would choose a name and the two would be paired for the coming year. This pagan festival was one of revelry and much drinking. Chocolate was not available to the ancient Romans.
St. Valentine - A Martyr for Love
Christianity took the ascendancy, the Catholic church frowning on pagan celebrations. Noting the popularity of the Lupercalia among the people, the Pope, in 494 AD, declared February 15th the feast of the Purification of the Virgin. He abolished the flaying of goat skins as a means of purification and gave a more sacramental significance to the rituals by placing, not the names of lusty young women, but the names of the saints in an urn. The history of Valentine's Day takes a turn toward purity. The young men drew the name of a saint and were then expected to emulate the saint whose name they had drawn. One might surmise the substitution of piety for romance was not an instant success.
During the reign of Claudius II, the pursuit of romance grew even more difficult. More warlike than romantic, Claudius' goal was to build an army for foreign wars, but met resistance as the young men did not want to leave their wives. In ire, Claudius decreed that there would be no more marriage.
A young priest named Valentine listened to the complaints of the young with compassion and with a plan. Though there are several legends surrounding Valentine, and more than one Italian city claims him, all agree that Valentine continued to marry young couples in secrecy and in stealth. All three legends say that Valentine was thrown in jail, but the fate of the kindly priest gives rise to variation. One legend says that he died in jail. Another says that Claudius had him clubbed to death, then beheaded. A third, more gentle one, says that he fell in love with the jailer's daughter and wrote her notes that were signed, "Your Valentine."
Whichever legend is true, Valentine's Day rose in popularity with the people. Though the course of true love may not run straight, it cannot be stopped. Giving in to popular demand, Pope Gelasius declared February 15th as the day to honor Valentine.
History of Valentine's Day in the Middle Ages
Warbling Birds
Chaucer verifies for us that the medieval Europeans believed February 15th to be the day the birds selected their mates. Now history is well recorded and documented. In his Parlement of Foules he wrote, "For this was Seynt Valentine's Day when every foul cometh ther to choose his mate." Just as the Romans drew the name of their sweetheart on Valentine's day, so also did the English and the French. In both countries, a young man would draw a name and then pin it on his sleeve, perhaps giving rise to the expression of 'wearing one's heart on one's sleeve.' The lovers would gift each other with treats and frequently end falling in love.
In all time, in all recorded history, love is love is love, the feeling we all want most, so the holiday increased in popularity. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was commonplace for lovers to send each other hand written notes stating their love. Great pondering and an attempt at originality went into these individual expressions of love, a burden on the true of heart who lacked poetic gifts. By the end of the century, advances in printing made it possible to purchase a printed card. The lover no longer had to discover an original way to state love. The first mass produced cards appeared in 1840 in America and the straining for originality was eased.
A Mad Young Danish Girl?
Why, that's Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet, garlanded with flowers and singing of St. Valentine's day in such a way as to shock all around her. click here for Ophelia's risqué mad song
AND NOW: Tell the one you love about your feelings. Borrow from the poet who has given us the most beautiful words ever written, and watch your own love soar:
click here for Shakespeare on love
Diana Serbe is a writer and the creator of In Mamas Kitchen. Click to meet Diana
click to send recipe
Please don't bother on knowing this, as it should and does not concerns at all to anybody who follows ISLAM as CODE of LIFE...
Take it easy...
One regular day out of 365.
These Days are being promoted by gaints who get
financial benefits on these days.
The Valentines day that M and F like to exchange kiss and send Chocolate and roses is Feb 14. But for me Valentines day is everyday.
Valentine's day is Feb 14. There are myths, not real stories. It is not related to any religion. It is just a day dedicated as hearts' day, lovers' day, or whatever. same like mother's day, father's day, and so on and so forth. zzzzzzzzz
Its on Feb 14th and its basis is from Saint Valentine. Google it...