• Books for the Family
  • Non-Fiction
  • Picture Books
  • Rodeo Hero-free read
  • Parents/Teachers
  • Vaquero Art
  • Bio
  • Blog
  • Contact Me

Wanda Snow Porter

Valentine Greetings

2/4/2016

0 Comments

 
In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius chose February 14th to honor Saint Valentine's martyrdom, most likely to replace Lupercalia, an ancient Roman fertility festival. The patron saint of engaged couples, happy marriages, and lovers, he is represented in pictures with birds and roses.

Many legends are attributed to this mysterious saint. It is told Valentine attempted to convert Roman Emperor Claudius II to Christianity. In a rage, Claudius demanded he renounce his faith or be beaten and beheaded. St. Valentine refused and was imprisoned. While there he healed the jailer's blind daughter. On his execution day, he left the girl a note signed, "Your Valentine."

Since that first Valentine message, lovers have recited or sang romantic valentine verses, and writers of love songs and poetry have been in demand. Credit for the first modern day Valentine is attributed to Charles, Duke of Orleans, who, while imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415, wrote romantic verses meant for his wife in France.

In the early 1700s, the exchange of cards became popular in America when Valentine "writers" booklets, a collection of verses and messages that could be copied onto decorative paper, were published in England. Some booklets contained not only verses to send, but also the answers to return.

In the late 1700s, valentines offered religious messages. The Sacred Heart and Angels depicted on those cards evolved into Valentine hearts and cupids. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland, known as the “Mother of the Valentine,” began selling mass produced  valentines  in America. Now, Valentine’s Day is the second largest card-sending holiday of the year.  
 
 
 
0 Comments

    Archives

    January 2020
    August 2018
    January 2017
    August 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    September 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Birds
    Books
    History
    Holidays
    Interviews
    Isaac J. Sparks
    Nature Education
    Pets
    Poetry
    Publishing
    Remedy
    Riding Babyface
    Rosa Sparks Porter
    Screenwriting
    Spurs For Jose
    Spurs For Jose Book Signing
    Willian G. Dana
    Women's History Month
    Writing

    RSS Feed

    RSS Feed