Posted on 02/14/2011 9:54:37 AM PST by DogwoodSouth
Poor St. Valentine. He never asked for it. He never asked that his name come to be associated with cheap candy and heart-shaped mylar balloons. I'm pretty sure he would have never guessed - not in a million years - that he would become synonymous with romantic crushes, red foil heart decorations and free hug coupons. What a horrid fate.
All we know about him is that he was buried along the Via Flaminia (an ancient Roman road which led from the city to the Adriatic Sea) on February 14th. We're not even positive about the year, but it was likely during the third century. His name does not appear in the earliest known Roman martyrology (the list of Christian martyrs from in and around the city of Rome) which was published in 354, but he was added to the Roman calendar of saints in 496 by Pope Gelasius I, who remarked that he was to be commemorated as one of the many saints "...whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God." According to pious tradition, there were actually two individuals who are both celebrated as martyrs on February 14th: a priest from Rome and a bishop from Terni who bore the same name. The two lived about about 50 years apart but both died as martyrs for the Faith during the third century. Each was buried after his martyrdom in a grave along the Via Flaminia, just at different distances from the city. But it is the former, who has come to be known as St. Valentine of Rome, that is usually considered the St. Valentine.
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I never forget Valentine’s Day. My wife and I never observe it. Her birthday is a few days before, so we celebrate that instead. This year she got what she’s wanted for the past few years, two new chairs for the living room. Not a personal present for sure, but she couldn’t be happier. It’s what she wanted...
I got my wife a new dishwasher last week, bless her heart!
face it sometimes we DO just want a new vacuum or stove—forget the flowers and get me something I can use.
Good for you.
The wife and I NEVER celebrate Valentines Day.
We wait a month and let our Irish ‘freak flag fly’ on St Patrick’s day!!!
Shamrocks,Shenanigans and Shots of Jamesons!!
SHE LOVES ME. SHE LOVES ME NOT! DARE I PEEL ANOTHER PETAL? WOOF!
“face it sometimes we DO just want a new vacuum or stove—forget the flowers and get me something I can use.”
It’s all about communication.
Then it IS a personal gift, and it sounds like a nice one!
Ain't it the truth, though I usually get those 'tool' type gifts for Mother's Day. ;o)
SirKit and I don't buy each other expensive gifts for Valentine's Day. This year, I got a glass vase, small black pebbles, and some Lucky Bamboo and made hubby an arrangement for his desk. I also made some chocolate covered strawberries for the first time! I even made some that look like the strawberry is wearing a tuxedo! They turned out great!
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