A Valentine’s Day Reader compiled by Darla Beasley

February 14^th has an interesting history. One of the earlier Roman traditions on this date--which was originally set aside as the eve of the festival of Lupercalia--was to send half naked young men into the street, equipped with whips made of goat skin. Any young woman who was struck on the palm of the hand by these goatskin thongs was assured love and fertility--very kinky girls, but they were the kind you could bring home to mother. The term used for these funky, little whips was februa and the gauntlet through the Roman streets was called, februatio It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to see how February might have received its name.

Valentinus, the Christian priest and martyr that might have given the day of love its formal name, was a very romantic fellow. During his incarceration, while he was waiting to be beaten with clubs, stoned, and finally beheaded for his beliefs, he had time to befriend the blind daughter of his jailer. Not only did he befriend her, but legend proclaims that he restored her sight as well. He also left the girl a note on the evening of his death, which read, From Your Valentine. Considering that her sight had just been restored, reading these words must have felt like reading the ultimate message of love.

Galatin is also considered a source word for the term “valentine.” Norman in origin, “galatin” means a gallant, or lover. It is not to be confused with “gelatin” which is something else entirely.

Birds are an intrinsic part of the celebration of Valentine’s Day in England, since many people believed that on this day , the birds were also busy choosing their mates.

Bay leaves were another Anglo-Saxon tradition on Valentine’s Day. Pinned to the four corners of a girl’s pillow, with one leaf tied in the middle, the leaves were supposed to bring dreams of who might be her sweetheart.

Onions were the preferred divination method of lovers in Germany. Several dry onions were tagged with the names of eligible bachelors and then placed in a corner near the fireplace. The name on the tag of the onion that sprouted first was the name of the suitor that would come to call and ask for marriage.

Fans drawn on early valentines were a request to “open up your heart.” A ribbon included as decoration meant, “you are mine” or “I claim you as my sweetheart.”

Lace in Latin, can be translated into the same meaning as the word “net.” Therefore, a lace ruffle included around a valentine meant, “you have caught my heart in a net.”

Mittens are what you did NOT want to receive on Valentine’s Day, especially those of the red variety. If a boy received a red mitten, it meant the girl of his choice did not return his affection, (as much as he may be smitten with her.)

Hair however, was a good thing to receive inside a Valentine’s Day message, because a lock of hair symbolized devotion.

Esther Howland is the name that launched a million valentines. Howland, who lived in England in the 1800s, was a female entrepreneur who started her own greeting card assembly line and took the tradition of Valentine’s Day to the next level. Working from her home at 16 Summer Street, Howland and her female workers can be considered the forerunners of all things Hallmark. Ironically enough, Esther Howland, the valentine card-maker, died a spinster at age 75.

Papyrotamia is not a fatal disease, but the term for the creation of intricate paper “cobwebs” or “beehives” cut into designs on Valentine’s Day cards. When the beehive is gently pulled outward, the recipient can see an image or message underneath.

Links that might be of interest to the hopeless romantic in you:

History of the English Post Box

http://www.bathpostalmuseum.org/Shop/S_Post_Boxes/s_post_boxes.html

Victorian Valentine Cards At the Lilly Library

http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/valentines/valentine.html

Vintage Valentine Art Collections

http://www.tssphoto.com/valentine.html

Happy Valentine’s Day!