Happy St. Valentine's Day to all you beautiful souls in love or looking to find love.
Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Valentines' day, or who this Saint was? Surely, there has to be more to the story besides red roses and boxes of chocolates.
Who was this Valentine, and why do we celebrate him as the Saint of Love?
What other countries celebrate and pay homage to this Saint? And, how is this day celebrated in the countries that acknowledge this day for more than romance and gifts?
St. Valentine's The Legend
To most of the Western world, St. Valentines was a Christian priest who lived in Ancient Rome. In 270 AD, Emperor Claudius II forbade marriage because he wanted men to be able to concentrate on war and not on their loved ones. Valentine carried on marrying couples, but only couples he thought were truly in love. Emperor Claudius found out and Valentine has executed on 14 February 270 AD.
Yet, in ancient Rome, there were two martyrs of that name: One of them was a priest who perished in 269 AD, the other was a bishop who was executed in 270 AD. It is said that before the execution he sent a note of friendship to his jailer`s blind daughter and signed it “Your Valentine”. It is not clear, unfortunately, which of the two is really the lovers` saint. The few known facts of their lives are so interwoven with undocumented traditions that are impossible to separate fact from legend.
Different Strokes for Different Countries
Chinese Tradition
The Chinese also have a day devoted to love. Qi Qiao Jie, or the seventh eve, is often referred to as Chinese Valentine's Day. While the annual gift-giving commonly associated with St. Valentine's Day doesn't take place, there are several charming customs associated with this romantic day for lovers. That is, on Thursday evening, Niu Lang and Zhi Nu will meet on a bridge of magpies across the Milky Way. Chinese grannies will remind children that they would not be able to see any magpies on that evening because all the magpies have left to form a bridge in the heavens with their wings. On this day Chinese girls prepare fruits, melons, and incense as offerings to Zhi Nu, the weaving maiden, praying to acquire high skills in needlecraft, as well as hoping to find satisfactory husbands. In the evening, people sit outdoors to observe the stars.
The Myth Zhi Nu was said to be the youngest of seven daughters of the Queen of Heaven. With her sisters, she worked hard to weave beautiful clouds in the sky, while Niu Lang was a poor orphan, driven out of his home by his elder brother and his cruel wife. A cow was his only companion. The magical cow kindly told him of a way to find a beautiful and nice woman as his life partner. He was told to visit the river… He saw Zhi Nu bathing with her six sisters. Niu Lang took the dress of the youngest sister and hid it, as he had seen her naked they must be married. As Zhi Nu was a fairy they were only allowed to meet one day a year on the bridge of magpies. This day is Valentine’s day.
Fairy Of The Magpie Bridge Among the beautiful clouds, Over the heavenly river, Crosses the weaving maiden. A night of rendezvous, Across the autumn sky, Surpasses joy on earth. Moments of tender love and dream, So sad to leave the magpie bridge. Eternal love between us two Shall withstand the time apart.
Japanese Tradition
In Japan, Valentine's Day is celebrated on two different dates. . . February 14 and March 14. On the first date, the female gives a gift to the male and on the second date. . . known as White Day and supposedly introduced by a marshmallow company in the 1960 s. . . the male has to return the gift he received on February 14. Thus, strictly speaking, a Japanese female has the luxury of actually choosing her own gift. Chocolate is the most popular gift in Japan. However, since most Japanese females believe that store-bought chocolate is not a gift of true love, they tend to make the confection with their own hands
Scottish Tradition
In Scotland, Valentine's Day is celebrated with a festival. At this festival, there is an equal number of unmarried males and females, each of whom write their name (or a made-up name) on a piece of paper which is then folded and placed into a hat. . . one hat for the ladies and one for the men. The females then draw a name from the hat containing the men's names and vice versa. Of course, it is highly likely that the two drawn names will not match. Gifts are given to the ladies. The females would then pin the name of their partner over their hearts or on their sleeves. A dance often follows and, at the end of the festival, it is not unusual for marriages to take place. According to another Scottish custom, the first young man or woman encountered by chance on the street or elsewhere will become that individual's valentine. Valentine's Day gifts in Scotland are frequently given by both parties in the form of a love token or true-love-knot.
Danish Tradition
In Denmark, The Danish valentine day’s card known as a lover's card came in the form of a transparency. When held up to the light showed a picture of a lover handing his love a gift. In Denmark, people swap poems and candy snowdrops. As well as some people send love notes, not serious love notes but, laughable notes which are called gaekkebrev which are also referred to as joking letters. On the gaekkebrev, the sender signs his or her name in dots. If the receiver guesses the correct name then the sender will get a candy egg at Easter time.
The history of St. Valentine is as complex as the myriads of tradition surrounding this day. However, in the end, it only matters what we make of it. Simply sending love and kindness out into the universe might be all that is necessary to appreciate the love that we all share.
However, your day turns out may it be filled with blessing and love!
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