VALENTINE FACTS,MYTHS AND LEGENDS

 

 

 

  Ancient Romans honoured the goddess Juno on February 14th.  Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses.  The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage.  The followuing day, February 15th, began the feast of Lupercalia. 

  In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be.  They would wear their names on their sleeves for a week.  To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

   Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine`s Day, it meant she would 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.

   Some people said if you found a glove on the road on Valentine`s day, your future beloved would have the other missing glove.

   Some believed the first man`s name you read in the paper or hear will be the name of the man you marry.

   Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed .  Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind.  Count the seeds that remain on the stem, and that is the number of children you will have.

 

                                     

   The Catholic Church recognises at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentius,  all of whom were martyred.

   One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome.  When Emporer Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families,  he outlawd marriage for young men --  his crop of potential soldiers.  Valentine, realising the injustice of the decree and defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.  When Valentine`s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

   According to one legend,  Valentine actually sent the first `valentine` greeting himself.  While in prison he fell in love with a young girl  --  who may have been his jailer`s daughter  --  who visited him during his confinement.  Before his death , it is said he wrote her a letter, which he signed  `From your Valentine`, an expression that is still in use today.

 

            

 

   The United Sates, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France and Australia all celebrate Valentine` Day.

   Over 1 billion Valentine cards are sent in the USA alone every year.

   85 % of Valentine cards are purchased by women.

   Valentine`s Day and Mother`s Day are the biggest holiday for giving flowers.

   Men buy most of the millions of chocolates and bouquets of flowers given on Valentine`s Day.

   Married on Valentine`s day :  Diane Ladd, Sharon Stone,  Prince, Roseanne,  Jerry Garcia, Harold Robbins, Meg Ryan, Dennis Quaid and Elton John.