Friday, January 31, 2003

Valentine's Trivia

How did Valentines started?

IN 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine. Gradually, Feb. 14, became a popular date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers.

Who is St. Valentines?

A Roman priest who defied the emperor's edict against marriage by secretly officiating marriages.

How did Cupid become a symbol of love?

Cupid became associated with Valentine because he was the son of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty.

The Valentine Story:

Third century Rome was a time marked by unpopular campaigns. The emperor, Claudius II, wanted men to join his military leagues. But many soldiers refused to join Claudius' force. Claudius reasoned that the men did not want to leave their families. He hit on the crazy idea that if he could cancel marriages and engagements, he could prompt men into joining his military force. As such, the order not to allow marriages created a great stir. But Valentine, who believed in love, continued marrying couples secretly. His kind deed cost him his life. He was stoned and beheaded.

It is said that while Valentine was in prison, many young people came to visit him, throwing notes and flowers on his window. They wanted Valentine to know that they too believed in love. During this time, Valentine fell in love with the blind daughter of his jailer. On the day he was to die, Valentine left her a note and signed it "Love from your Valentine." It was written on February 14, the day he died.

The note supposedly started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentines Day. It is said that later, when people remembered how Claudius tried to stand in the way of love, they laugh because they know love can't be beaten.

Some Valentine beliefs:

• In some countries, a young woman may receive a piece of clothing from a young man. If she keeps the gift, it means she will marry him.
• If a woman sees a robin flying overhead on Valentine's day, it meant that she will marry a sailor.
• If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy.
• If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.
• If you don't know who to marry, twist the stem of an apple all the while reciting the names of your luvs. The name you mention when the stem falls off will be the person you will marry.
• If you want to know the number of children you will have, pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Blow the seeds into the wind. The number of seeds that remain on the stem will be the number of children you will have.
• Cut an apple in half and count the number of seeds inside. That is how many children you will have.

- compiled by Lieza Noelle Malinao/Leyte State University intern