It is believed that Valentines originated from the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalis, sometimes called Lupercalia. The feast celebration was held through February 13 till 15. In an annual rite of fertility, eligible young men and women would be paired as couples through a town lottery. Briefly clad or naked men would then run through the town carrying the skins of newly sacrificed goats dipped in blood. The women of the town would present themselves to be gently slapped by the strips and marked by the blood to improve their chances of conceiving in the coming year.
Later, when Christianity dominated Europe, pagan holidays such as Lupercalia were renamed after early Christian Martyrs. In 496, February 14 was officially declared to be feast day of two Roman martyrs, both called Saint Valentine, by Pope Gelsius. Surprisingly, neither Saint Valentine had any connection to courtship or lovers.
Despite the constant attempts of the Christian church to sanctify the holiday, the association of Valentine's Day with love and romance continued through the Middle Ages. In France and England it was believed that the birds mated on February 14, then the birds symbolized love on drawings and poems written. By 18th century, it became a custom that on this particular day, lovers exchange love notes and poems. By the 19th and 20th century, lovers started to exchange greeting cards and fancy lunch and dinner invitations.
Nowadays, Valentine's Day is celebrated through sending cards and short poems as email and short cell phone messages.
Legend behind Valentine's Day Roses
There is an interesting story behind the legend of Valentine's Day Rose. It is said that once a beautiful maiden by the name of Rodanthe was pursued by a number of impassioned suitors. In their desperate pursuit the lovers broke the doors of Rodanthe's house. This enraged goddess Dianna. She turned Rodanthe into a flower and her suitors into thorns.
An interesting point to notice is that if the letters of the word ‘rose' are rearranged, it comes out to Eros - the God of Love.
Red roses are also considered to be a symbol of love and passion and the favorite flower of Venus - the Goddess of Love.
Rose flower is found in different colors and it is fascinating to note that each of these different Rose colors have been assigned different meanings by the society. Hence one needs to be careful while presenting rose to someone.
Red Roses - Love and passion
Yellow Roses - Friendship
White Roses - True love and purity of the mind
Pink Roses - Friendship or Sweetheart
Black Roses - Farewell
Origin of Valentine's Day Hearts
Around 12th Century people were not aware the function of heart was to circulate blood inside the human body. What they knew was that heart begins to beat faster when a person is upset or excited. They, therefore, derived that heart was the seat of emotions and feelings. Poets too eulogized the role of heart in feelings of love and romance and over the years this make believe connection between heart and love became deep seated in the minds of people. Today, even though it has been scientifically proved that emotions come from the brain heart remains a powerful symbol of love and Valentine's Day.
Cupid
The symbol traces its origin from the Roman mythology where Cupid has been described as the son of Venus - the Goddess of Love. It is believed that Cupid had a bow with a quiver of arrows and anyone hit by Cupid's arrow did not die but fell in love. According to a myth, it was Cupid's mother Venus who used to send him on such errands.
About Lovebirds
It is said that blue colored lovebirds got their names because they sit closely to each other just like people who are in love do. People say that lovebirds can't think of their lives without their mates. Besides, lovebirds are known to keeping in pairs and keeping to themselves just as the young lovers want to live in privacy. Nowadays, lovebirds that are depicted on Valentine's Day are tiny parrots in bright colors. This is because lovebirds are genetically from parrot family.
About Doves
A special characteristic of doves and pigeons is their extreme loyalty to their mates. Unlike most other animals that go from partner to partner, doves remain with one partner all through their life. This is why, doves are recognized as a symbol of love and loyalty on Valentine's Day. According to a myth, Roman Goddess Venus considered dove as sacred because of its fidelity towards mate. Cooing sound made by birds is linked to “love sound” attributed to lovers. For this reason, when lovers talk in flowery and sugary language to each other they are said to be 'cooing'.
Valentine's Day symbol of Love Knots traces its origin to early Arab traditions. Young Muslim women living in strict orthodox households used to express love to young men through secret messages woven through the knots of a carpet. Lovers read the messages by turning the knot around and around. The tradition of sending messages through the knots gave birth to the concept of love knots that exist even to this day. Some people believe the custom of love knots began with the sailors several years ago. This is because sailors were skilled at making fishnets and so making intricate knots was their forte.
Laces and ribbons are a delicate Valentine's Day symbol. Their association with love and romance can be traced to ancient times. At that time when kings and knights went to battles their ladylove presented laces to them. There is yet another reason attributed to popularity of Laces as Valentine's Day symbol. Hundreds of years ago ladies used to carry lace handkerchief. If at times a lady accidentally dropped her hanky, courtesy demanded that the man standing near the lady pick up the handkerchief for her. Sometimes, ladies used to drop their handkerchiefs deliberately in front of the man they liked and wanted to meet. Lace therefore became a tool in the hands of ladies to encourage romance. Gradually, people began to associate lace with romance and started using paper lace to decorate chocolate boxes and Valentine cards. Even in present times laces are used in Valentine's Day Decoration and Cards.
However you decide to spend Valentine's Day, today, i hope you find a special way to show your love to your friends and family!
♥ Happy Valentine's Day! ♥
Later, when Christianity dominated Europe, pagan holidays such as Lupercalia were renamed after early Christian Martyrs. In 496, February 14 was officially declared to be feast day of two Roman martyrs, both called Saint Valentine, by Pope Gelsius. Surprisingly, neither Saint Valentine had any connection to courtship or lovers.
Despite the constant attempts of the Christian church to sanctify the holiday, the association of Valentine's Day with love and romance continued through the Middle Ages. In France and England it was believed that the birds mated on February 14, then the birds symbolized love on drawings and poems written. By 18th century, it became a custom that on this particular day, lovers exchange love notes and poems. By the 19th and 20th century, lovers started to exchange greeting cards and fancy lunch and dinner invitations.Nowadays, Valentine's Day is celebrated through sending cards and short poems as email and short cell phone messages.Legend behind Valentine's Day Roses
There is an interesting story behind the legend of Valentine's Day Rose. It is said that once a beautiful maiden by the name of Rodanthe was pursued by a number of impassioned suitors. In their desperate pursuit the lovers broke the doors of Rodanthe's house. This enraged goddess Dianna. She turned Rodanthe into a flower and her suitors into thorns.
An interesting point to notice is that if the letters of the word ‘rose' are rearranged, it comes out to Eros - the God of Love.
Red roses are also considered to be a symbol of love and passion and the favorite flower of Venus - the Goddess of Love.
Rose flower is found in different colors and it is fascinating to note that each of these different Rose colors have been assigned different meanings by the society. Hence one needs to be careful while presenting rose to someone.
Red Roses - Love and passion
Yellow Roses - Friendship
White Roses - True love and purity of the mind
Pink Roses - Friendship or Sweetheart
Black Roses - Farewell
Origin of Valentine's Day Hearts
Around 12th Century people were not aware the function of heart was to circulate blood inside the human body. What they knew was that heart begins to beat faster when a person is upset or excited. They, therefore, derived that heart was the seat of emotions and feelings. Poets too eulogized the role of heart in feelings of love and romance and over the years this make believe connection between heart and love became deep seated in the minds of people. Today, even though it has been scientifically proved that emotions come from the brain heart remains a powerful symbol of love and Valentine's Day.
Cupid
The symbol traces its origin from the Roman mythology where Cupid has been described as the son of Venus - the Goddess of Love. It is believed that Cupid had a bow with a quiver of arrows and anyone hit by Cupid's arrow did not die but fell in love. According to a myth, it was Cupid's mother Venus who used to send him on such errands.
About Lovebirds
It is said that blue colored lovebirds got their names because they sit closely to each other just like people who are in love do. People say that lovebirds can't think of their lives without their mates. Besides, lovebirds are known to keeping in pairs and keeping to themselves just as the young lovers want to live in privacy. Nowadays, lovebirds that are depicted on Valentine's Day are tiny parrots in bright colors. This is because lovebirds are genetically from parrot family. About Doves
A special characteristic of doves and pigeons is their extreme loyalty to their mates. Unlike most other animals that go from partner to partner, doves remain with one partner all through their life. This is why, doves are recognized as a symbol of love and loyalty on Valentine's Day. According to a myth, Roman Goddess Venus considered dove as sacred because of its fidelity towards mate. Cooing sound made by birds is linked to “love sound” attributed to lovers. For this reason, when lovers talk in flowery and sugary language to each other they are said to be 'cooing'.Love Knots
Valentines Day Lace
However you decide to spend Valentine's Day, today, i hope you find a special way to show your love to your friends and family!
♥ Happy Valentine's Day! ♥
4 comments:
Good job incorporating some great works of art with the history of Valentine's Day!
You have some amazing items there! Never really think about how the different holidays started (accept Christmas of course). Very interesting!
Wow! Great pics and all of this history is really interesting! Thank you for including my love bird push pins!
audrey thanks! i always find it interesting how holidays develop - especially past the hallmark sense of it anyway! lol
erica/acrylic - yw! i loved your birds and they fit perfectly!
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