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Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy St. Valentine's Day....

Saint Valentine's Day, also known as Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is observed on February 14 th each year. 


It is celebrated in many countries around the world. 



St. Valentine's Day began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named “Valentinus.”  


Several martyrdom stories were invented for the various Valentines that belonged to February 14, and added to later martyrologies. 


A popular hagiographical account of Saint Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry...  


...and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire.   


According to legend, during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius.


An embellishment to this story states that before his execution he wrote her a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell.  


The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.


In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery and sending greeting cards known as "valentines"  


Hand-made valentine cards made of lace, ribbons, and featuring cupids and hearts eventually spread to the American colonies. 



The tradition of Valentine's cards did not become widespread in the United States, however, until the 1850s... 

...when Esther A. Howland, a Mount Holyoke graduate and native of Worcester, Mass., began mass-producing them.  

There was also a conventional belief in Europe during the Middle Ages that birds chose their partners in the middle of February.



Thus the day was dedicated to love, and people observed it by writing love letters and sending small gifts to their beloved. 
  
















Whatever your beliefs are regarding the origin & history of 
St. Valentine's Day...
...here's wishing you the sweetest one! 

17 comments:

  1. GORGEOUS hearts.

    I made a little heart out of wire similar to one of yours. I didn't know how to finish it off and I see you used some bling. I might just finish mine off like yours.

    Thanks for the inspiration and Happy Valentine's Day,

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  2. Okay, this is probably my "favorite" post EVER. I adore your history and images. Your images make me smile, make me happy, make my heart sing! How GORGEOUS - Love is all around!!

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  3. Always love hearts, any time of the year. Thanks for for the information even though a little sad.

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  4. Oh my - one of the most beautiful heart collages I have ever seen. How did you ever come up with that. Was it just for the photo shoot? Or do you have it hanging somewhere, etc? Awesome creation!

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  5. Michelle,
    This is awesome. I love all the hearts and the history. Great post.
    Kris

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  6. Great post ... I just loved all of the hearts .... Just beautiful!
    diane @ thoughts and shots

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  7. This is the sweetest post...and that little book, stole my heart!

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  8. beautiful collections... gorgeous blog!!

    following you from GYB party. Will be visiting often..:) So nice to meet ya..

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  9. What a beautiful post and delightful history of Valentine' Day. thank you so much for sharing and wishing you a happy day!

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  10. Be still my HEART!! Such wonderful images and a bit of interesting history, too!

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  11. Your photos are always so dreamy! Can't get over those rock "hearts!"

    Jeanine

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  12. LOVE this post! Your collection of hearts is stunning.

    Happy ❤️ Day
    Abby

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  13. Thank you Michelle for your Valentine's Day info. I never realized its history dated back so far. I love your sweet valentine collection. Especially that old love letter and the crocheted heart reliquary. You always have the best taste in sweet old relics! Hope you had a beautiful Valentine's Day!

    Christine

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  14. What a beautiful and interesting post Michelle! I adore your valentine collage - such sweet treasures. Happy weekend ~ Hugs, Heidi

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  15. I always adore your informative posts on the history of holidays, Michelle. Especially love this history of St. Valentine's day. Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

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  16. Thanks for your post. I’ve been thinking about writing a very comparable post over the last couple of weeks, I’ll probably keep it short and sweet and link to this instead if thats cool. Thanks.
    Grow Your Blog

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Taking the time to share your thoughts...your words...and your inspiration fills my soul....Merci.
~*~Michelle~*~