FEB. 5, 1965
Valentine a Lovers' Saint
If Valentine, a third century Roman bishop, were alive today, he would certainly be surprised to find himself a lover's saint. What has St. Valentine to do with all this? Really nothing at all, except that Feb. 14th is the anniversary of the day on which he was martyred. Supposedly, before he was beheaded, he wrote a message to his jailer's blind daughter who had befriended him. The note was signed, "From your Valentine." When St. Valentine came to be placed on the calendar, his. name was given to the day of is death.
Feb. 15th marked the date of the Roman Lupercalia, a pagan rite held in honor of Pan, the god of nature. Part of the ceremony consisted of putting girls' names in a box and letting the boys draw them, thus making them partners for the remainder of the festival. Later, the church christianized the Lupercalia but substituted names of saints for those of girls in the lottery. The participant was expected to pattern his life after the saint's life during the following year.
Valentine Greetings
To My Beloved
Never; oh never;
Another can be,
So Gentle, so kind;
And so smiling as thee.
Today the trend seems to be toward insulting valentines such as:
Are there any more at home like you?
Or have they already fumigated the place?
or
Sugar is sweet,
Coal is black,
Do me a favor and sit on a tack.
or
Roses are pink,
Violets are red,
You'd look better
Minus your head.
Well, Feb. 14th has rolled around once again. To those of you who will get no Valentine card, this story goes to you with XXXX's across the bottom.
Happy Valentine!