Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day, is one of the most popular events of the year, celebrated almost all over the world. Below you will find out what are the strangest curiosities about Valentine's Day and what is the history of the lovers' holiday. During this time, shop windows and florists are filled with red hearts, teddy bears, and flowers, especially red roses. Where did Valentine's Day come from and how to spend this romantic time with your loved one? We will try, at least in a minimal way, to help resolve all doubts.
The name of this unusual holiday comes from the name of St. Valentine - the patron saint of lovers. St. Walenty was a bishop of Terni and a Roman priest. His feast day is celebrated in the Catholic Church on February 14.
Legend has it that St. Walenty celebrated the wedding of young lovers despite the ruler's ban, and was thrown into prison. It was then that he fell in love with the guardian's daughter, who regained her sight thanks to his love. Unfortunately, Emperor Claudius did not accept the love of two lovers and sentenced Valentine to beheaded. Before his tragic death, Walenty managed to write a letter to his beloved, which he signed: "From Your Valentine".
Before Valentine's Day came to Poland, it traveled all over the world. From the Middle Ages, it was celebrated in southern and western Europe. Modern customs related to Valentine's Day began in the 1840s in the United States. We can see the first surviving Valentine's Day at the British Museum. It was given in 1415 by the Duke of Orleans - Charles, who, imprisoned in the Tower of London, sent his wife a card with a declaration of love.
Valentine's Day reached Poland in the 90s of the last century. From the beginning, Valentine's Day did not have only supporters, on the contrary, they had their opponents. Poles considered this day an Americanized holiday. Over the years, however, more and more people have become convinced of this custom and celebrate this holiday with joy.
How and where to spend Valentine's evening with your loved one?
We don't have to wonder what gift to buy. All you need is a small, inexpensive gift straight from the heart.
The most popular gifts are Valentine's cards made by hand or bought in a store. The most important thing is that the declarations of love they contain are sincere and true. We don't have to rewrite clichéd poems to simply express the real feeling we have for the other person.
In addition to cards, various types of chocolates are popular. They are available in various forms in each store, but the most important thing is that they always have the power of aphrodisiacs. After all, the taste of chocolate is probably loved by all of us.
A simple, universal gift can also be a porcelain mug with a romantic decoration, a pillow or a frame for a common photo. All gifts must have a red accent, preferably a symbol of love - a heart. Additionally, we can offer the ladies a bouquet of beautiful red roses.
To make this evening really special, let's remember about a romantic dinner. It can be a meal either in an elegant restaurant or by candlelight in the privacy of your home. A well-known proverb says: "through the stomach to the heart." It is probably quite a challenge, but remember that they do not have to be exquisite and sophisticated dishes. The most important thing is that they should be made by hand - and their perfect complement will be good, red wine served in elegant glasses.
Of course, the culmination of a romantic dinner should be a sweet dessert supplemented with fruit - e.g. juicy strawberries, which can be dipped in melted milk chocolate. If you absolutely want a cake on the table, you can prepare it using a heart-shaped springform pan. It can be any cake, but the very shape of the baking pan will make this dessert really special.
Finally, don't forget about candlesticks and lanterns. They will disperse the candlelight, thus creating an unprecedented visual spectacle, guaranteeing a romantic atmosphere.
As we know, we should show a loved one every day - however, Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to do it in a really special and unique way. So let's not miss this occasion and let's put our whole heart into this romantic evening, and the effect will definitely be stunning, and maybe even…. will surpass our wildest expectations.
1. The British consider Valentine's Day their own celebration due to the fact that it was made famous all over the world by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832). Therefore, it is believed that it was the British who spread the celebration of lovers' holidays all over the world.
2. Several cities in Poland admit to having a relic of St. Walenty, including Lublin, Kraków, and Chełmno. In each of them, on February 14, celebrations are organized in honor of the patron saint of lovers.
. An interesting fact is that Poland organizes the Valentine's Day celebrations, known as "Chełmno Valentine's Day". Due to the St. Of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary relics of St. Valentine, the local cult of St. Valentine with the Anglo-Saxon tradition.
4. The first piece of information, considered by some to be a reference to Valentine's Day, is found in the poem of 1382 - "The Parliament of Fowles" by Geoffrey Chaucer (the most famous work of this English poet and philosopher is "The Canterbury Tales") .
For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd cometh there to chese his make.
Some scholars believe that this may be the first mention of the February 14 holiday. However, as critics claim, February is not the season of bird mating in England, and Henry Ansgar Kelly notes that the poem "The Seym of Birds" was written on the occasion of the engagement of King Richard II of England and Anna Czaska (Anne of Bohemia) on May 2, 1381. that is, on the day dedicated to Saint Valentine, the Bishop of Genoa, in the liturgical calendar.
Ophelia:
Let's not talk about it anymore
but how will they ask you,
what does that mean, say:
Good morning, today is Saint Valentine.
It is just dawning;
The young man lies seated asleep,
And a big girl knocks on him.
The lover jumped, put on his garments,
The door opened in front of his one
And the girl entered the hut,
But the girl did not come out of the hut.
(Hamlet, Act IV Scene 5)
6. The most important place of worship of St. Valentine's Day is the basilica of his name in Terni, on the silver reliquary with the remains of the patron there is an inscription "Saint Valentine, the patron of love". Every year on the Sunday preceding February 14, couples from all over Italy and the world come to the basilica to make a vow of love. Spouses celebrating the 25th or 50th anniversary of the sacrament of marriage also gather here.
7. The American Greeting Card Association estimates that about one billion Christmas cards are sent worldwide on the occasion of Valentine's Day. This puts Valentine's Day in second place (behind Christmas) in the ranking of the holidays with the most wishes. About 85% of these wishes are sent by women.
8. Every year the famous Juliet from Shakespeare's drama "Romeo and Juliet" receives over 1,000 Valentine's Day. Cards and letters are sent to Verona, where Juliet's house and balcony are located.
Valentine's Day has been celebrated in southern and western Europe since the Middle Ages. In northern and eastern Europe, Valentine's Day began much later.
Despite the Catholic patron of this holiday, it is sometimes associated with a common practice from the Roman Empire, consisting mainly in searching for the chosen one, e.g. by drawing her name from a special urn. The modern-day lovers, however, is not directly related to one specific holiday of ancient Rome, although it is associated with such mythological figures as Cupid, Eros, Pan, or Juno Februata.
It is possible that the customs of this day refer to the ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia, celebrated on February 14-15 in honor of Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and the Lord, the god of nature.
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