Red hearts and roses, messages on sugar candies and sweet kisses. Valentine's Day is all about loving thoughts and affection. Whether sweetheart or lover, parent, child, classmate or friend, get out some red construction paper, white paper doilies and carefully craft your words because it is time to say "I love you." ...
Heartfelt love has been around since the beginning of time. Valentine's Day began in the third century A.D. One story tells us the heart became a symbol of this celebrated day when a martyr named Valentine, rejected by his mistress, was so broken-hearted he "took a knife to his chest and sent her his still-beating heart as a token of his undying love." I don't know the truth of this tale and definitely do not recommend copying this martyr's act. Nonetheless, hearts, red hearts in particular, are a symbol of affection and of Valentin's Day.
This day was definitely associated with romantic love in the Middle Ages when the tradition of courtly love flourished - according to Geoffrey Chaucer. By the mid 1800s Valentine cards were hand made - the sentiments hand written and poetic: "Weddings now are all the go. Will you marry me - or no" or "My dearest miss, I send thee a kiss."
Valentine's Day continues to be celebrated around the world. In the U.S., stores are stocked with cards, red roses, fuzzy teddy bears, pink frosted cupcakes and heart shaped boxes of chocolates. Young and old love being the Valentine expeditor as well as recipient. A tradition in Denmark and Norway is celebrated as a special Valentine's Day dinner with a loved one. In Saudi Arabia, in 2008, there was a religious ban on the sale of Valentine's Day items as the day was considered un-Islamic. Red items were removed from shops but love being what it is, the ban created a black market of roses and wrapping paper ....
My heart is overflowing with warm affection for my friends, neighbors, acquaintances and fellow bloggers. I wish each of you a fist full of Valentines this February 14th and send this special wish to you:
Be Mine - X O X O X
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