International, Religion, Society

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone on the blog.

It is a special day when we technically remember the burning at the stake of two Valentines in Rome. Valentine of Rome was a priest burned on the Via Flaminia about AD 269. (You can still see his toasted relics at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland. Valentine of Terni was also burned on the Via Flaminia about AD 197. This led to the first rule of Valentine’s Day: if you are named Valentine, avoid Via Flaminia.

At some point, being burned at the stake reminded people of their marriages and relationships. It certainly does make flaming hearts more historically correct among Valentine cards and gifts.

It was Esther Howland in Worchester, England in 1847 who is given credit for commercializing the holiday with the Valentine card. Thank you Esther, though I still try to celebrate each Valentine Day with a barbecue and a nice chianti.

Leslie and I went out last night with friends for drinks and a comedy club (with a uniquely unfunny comedian). This morning we made heart-shaped red-died pancakes.

29 thoughts on “HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!”

  1. Happy Valentines Day to everyone. This day is a day to kick back and remember all of your loved ones. Both family and friends. I even include some Republicans in that wish!

  3. Dearest Buddha,

    I have not forgotten your Birthday is tomorrow; so may I be the first to wish you a very Happy Birthday! I hope you are having good Birthday weekend with lots of love…xoxox

  4. Today is a Sunday, and I’m missing the usual cute critter commentary. So how about some cool cats in love.

  5. Bonnie,

    I apologize, I posted without acknowledging that I’m sorry you feel uncomfortable today. I don’t think any less of myself or others, when they lack a “SO” on Valentine’s or any other day!
    Truly I just always enjoy an excuse to publicly celebrate LOVE…

  7. I hate Valentine’s Day. It does its best to make those of us without SO’s think we are not whole people.

  9. What to click this Valentine’s Day
    The Web is glutted with hearts and flowers right now, but we’re here to help you sort through it Video
    By Kate Harding

    Salon/iStockphotoSunday is Valentine’s Day, which means the Internet is abuzz with holiday-related articles, merchandise, advertising, romantic comedy trailers, dating advice, gift advice, quizzes, shame, bitterness, desperation, bull pucky and sap — all the usual stuff. Here’s what we’ve found that’s worth clicking on.

    For cynics and singles: AntiVDay.com has a forum for discussing why this holiday sucks; Despair, Inc. will sell you conversation hearts that say things like “dog is cuter,” “celib8 thx2u” and “p.s. i luv me”; Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner offers tips on being your own Valentine aimed at adolescent girls, but not bad for grown-ups, either; and you can find lists of anti-Valentine’s day movies to get you through the weekend at The California Literary Review, Rotten Tomatoes and Zap2It.

    http://www.salon.com/life/broadsheet/feature/2010/02/12/valentine_links/index.html

  16. “This led to the first rule of Valentine’s Day: if you are named Valentine, avoid Via Flaminia.”

    ****************

    Not to denigrate our Valentines of the past, but what exactly did those Romans think would happen on a road named “little flame?” flamma(flame)+inia(little)

  18. And here I thought it was simply another ” special ” day created by the card industry to keep money coming in during the month of February.

  19. Is this quaint, another pagan practice commercialized. The god of men love Eros, Cupid the Goddess of love between a woman and a man.

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