It’s that time again. Time to buy little valentines with messages like “Be mine” and “You are tops.” It’s time for all the nifty candy to come out.  But most important of all, it’s thetime to show those dear to you how much you love them. Isn’t it great that we have anentire holiday devoted to loving one another? Valentine’s Day has dubious origins.  Thereare three main theories on how it came to be.

Some scholars believe that it came from the Roman festival on February 15 calledLupercalia, performed to ensure protection from the wolves. Another theory is thatValentine’s Day is in honor of two Christian saints named Valentine. One lived in Rome inthe AD 200s and married young couples against the law of the then-Emperor Claudis II.

The second, who lived in a city about 60 miles outside Rome, made great friends withthe children of the town. He was later imprisoned for not worshipping the right gods. Thechildren missed him so much that they threw loving notes through the bars of his cellwindow. Both were executed February 14 in Rome. In AD 469, St. Pope Gelasius Inamed February 14 Valentine’s Day.

The third theory is English in origin. Many believed that birds chose their mates on thisday. Whatever the origins, Valentine’s Day has been celebrated in different ways overthe years. Originally, the names of all the ladies of the town were put into a hat, and themen would each draw one. That lady would become his Valentine. Most young menwould buy presents for their valentines. Sometimes they were very expensive!

In the 1400s, however, this changed, and Valentine’s Day became less about gift giving and - getting and more about declaration of love.

It’s too bad it has begun to shift back, recently, to the gifts, flowers, and candymentality. Instead of spending much money saying “I love you” with flowers and candies,do it by giving gifts that come from the heart, not necessarily the store.

LaceLace is a pretty fabric made by weaving together fine threads. Hundred of years ago, women carried lace handkerchiefs. If a woman dropped her handkerchief, a man nearby might pick it up and return it to her. Sometimes a woman might see a man she wanted to meet. She might drop her lace handkerchief on purpose to encourage romance. Soon people thought of romance when they thought of lace. They began using paper lace to decorate chocolate boxes and Valentine cards.

Red RoseThe rose was a favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Red is a color that stands for strong feelings. This is why the red rose is a flower of love.

HeartEmotions are feelings such as love, happiness, anger, or fear. A long time ago, people believed that all emotions were found in the heart. In later years, they thought only the emotion of love was connected with the heart. The heart is still a symbol of love, and because of this, it is also a symbol of Valentine’s Day.

RingsIn some countries, men and women exchange rings when they become engaged or married. Two or three hundred years ago, Valentine’s Day was a popular day for giving an engagement ring. An engagement ring usually had a stone or jewel set in it. Diamonds are common in today’s engagement rings.

GlovesYears ago, when a man proposed marriage to a woman, he asked “for her hand.” The hand became a symbol of marriage and love. Soon gloves also became a symbol of love.

CupidSon of Venus, goddess of love. He could cause people to fall in love by piercing them with one of his magic arrows.

 

You’re my cup of tea!

Bee mine!

You Lightof my Life!

To:

From:

To:

From:

Sonnet 

IThroug

h

Blue

Sky

Fly

To

You

Why?

Sweet

Love

Feet

Move

So

Slow.

Anon.

Valentine so bright and

gay,

I am sending out today.

With the message, "I love

you,"

Hoping that you love me,

too.

   Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine Day, 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 millionaire.

 

   Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry, as you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry a person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off.

    Hundreds of years ago in England, many children dressed up as adults on

St. Valentine Day. They went singing from home to home. One verse they sang was: Good morning to you valentine; Curl your locks as I do mine— Two before and three behind. Good morning to you valentine

  In some countries, a young woman may receive a gift of clothing from a

young man. If she keeps the gift, it means that will marry the man. 

Let me call you sweetheart I am in love with you.Let me hear with youThat you love me too

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I’m nuts for you !

To:

From:

I’m

hooked

on you!

    Do you know what a love seat is? It’s a wide chair. It was first made to seat one woman in her wide dress. Later, the love seat or courting seat had two sections, often in an S-shape. In this way, a couple could seat together – but not too closely!

 

  In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

   Some people said that if you found a glove on Valentine’s Day, your future

beloved will have the other missing glove.   Some believe the first man’s name you read in the paper or hear that day

will be the name of the man you will marry. 

In Wales, they carved "Wooden Love Spoons" and were given as gifts on Valentine's Day. Special decoration like hearts, keys and keyholes were carved on the spoons. The decoration translated means "Unlock my Heart".

• Fill in the Missing Letters in Valentine Words