Jeff–Saturday
Two weeks in from total knee replacement surgery, I'm beyond pleased to say things are going better than ever expected!!!! (Puh, Puh, Puh). That said, I realize I'd been less than diligent this past week in discharging my Valentine's Day duties. In an effort to redeem myself in the eyes of those-of-you-who-know-who-you-are, I thought I'd rerun this blog on the origins of Valentine's Day I posted six years ago.
This being a site hosted by crime writers, you might think
I’m about to plunge into a discussion of the most famous bloody Valentine’s Day
ever, February 14, 1929. That’s when
members of Al Capone’s South Side Gang—some dressed as cops—lined up seven men
affiliated with Bugs Moran’s North Side Gang inside a garage and shot them dead
as part of a war for control of organized crime in Prohibition-era
Chicago.
But you’d be wrong, for this piece is about hearts and
flowers. No, ye cynics, not bullets
through the heart and flowers for a funeral, but those bouquets you give to
your beloved on the 14th of February—or risk consequences
unmentionable in civilized society.
Yes, chocolates (a rumored aphrodisiac) and cards (did you
know the first card was written in the form of a poem from a royal prisoner in
the Tower of London to his wife?—even he knew forgetting was not an option) are
also big Valentine’s Day favorites, too, but this is about flowers.
 |
| Charles, Duke of Orleans and first Valentine's Day card sender |
But first a bit of history on how lovers became so obsessed
with VD—hmm, any wonder why that acronym never caught on?
One legend says it began during a time of religious
persecution in third century Rome, when Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage
for soldier-age young men. Single men
fought better, he thought. [Ed. Note: With great will power I resisted
inserting a joke here.]
A young priest thought that unfair, and kept performing
marriages in secret. When Claudius
discovered the priest’s violation of his edict, the Emperor sentenced him to
death. While in prison, the priest befriended
and healed his jailer’s blind daughter, and before being put to death—on
February 14, 270—sent a letter to her signing it “From Your Valentine.”
Yep, Valentine was his name, and the legend goes on to say that
in 496, after Valentine had been sainted, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th
as a day to honor his memory as the patron saint of happy marriages, engaged
couples and young people.
That’s disputed though, for some claim the date corresponds to
the Roman fertility celebration of Lupercalia
held between February 13th and 15th, and others claim it
relates more to the period on the ancient Athenian calendar dedicated to the
marriage of Zeus and Hera. You knew I’d
work the Greeks in here somewhere.
 |
| Lupercalia by Beccafumi |
But it’s undisputed that the romantic love connotation to
Valentine’s Day began in the 14th Century with this simple line by
one rather influential writer:
 |
| Translation available via Glasgow |
Still, it wasn’t until the early 1700s that flowers became a
tradition on Valentine’s Day. That’s generally attributed to Charles II of
Sweden’s introduction to Europe of the Persian custom of the “language of
flowers.” Each flower had its own
meaning, a sort of secret code between the sender and recipient.
And with the rose symbolizing passion and love, it’s no
wonder roses are the number one best seller every Valentine’s Day (257 million
in the US in 2014). But there are other
flowers finding their way to Valentines, and for those of you wondering just
what your beloved may have meant by those flowers that arrived at your doorstep
today, here’s a list of meanings. http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/aboutflowers/flower-meanings
Just don’t shoot the messenger.
By the way, Valentine’s Day isn’t a big deal in Greece. No reason to be, Greece gave Eros to the
world. Now it’s only looking to get some
love back in return.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Barbara, Karen, Jennifer, Gavi, and
Rachel. Okay, Jon, Terry, and Azi, too. And of course to….
Posts
We are seeing more Valentine's Day displays in our rural slice of Greece but as you write, the day isn't what it is in the States. In fact while sipping morning cappuccinos on Valentine's Day at a village taverna which is also a popular restaurant, Joel asked our waitress if they were going to be busy later in the day. She said, "Yes, very busy. Many people." He said he was surprised so many were celebrating Valentine's Day and she said, "Not Valentine's Day. . .there is a funeral this afternoon. They will come after church." ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou're quite the storyteller of Greek folkways, Jackie. I just wonder if there was a deeper unintended meaning to be found in the waitress's reference to Valentine's Day in the morning, a funeral in the afternoon. Especially in light of the Greek sense of humor. :)
ReplyDelete