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St. Valentine’s Day Around the world. St. Valentine’s Day - 14 th February. Around 1 billion cards are exchanged globally on St. Valentine’s Day each year.
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St. Valentine’s Day Around the world
St. Valentine’s Day - 14th February • Around 1 billion cards are exchanged globally on St. Valentine’s Day each year. • In 2016, Irish romantics spent more on Valentine’s Day flowers than their loved-up peers in countries across Europe, with the average bouquet bought in the Republic costing €55, compared with €47 in the UK and €33 in Germany. (Survey published on March 7, 2016) • But who was Valentine, what is love and how is Valentine’s day celebrated around the world?
Who was Valentine? • Valentine was a Christian priest who lived in Ancient Rome. • In 270AD, the Emperor Claudius II forbade marriage because he wanted men to be able to concentrate on war; not on their loved ones. • Valentine carried on celebrating weddings of marrying couples; but only couples he thought were truly in love. • Emperor Claudius found out and Valentine was executed on the 14th February 270AD.
As a result of Valentine’s refusal to betray his faith in God, hundreds of years later in 496AD, Pope Gelasius declared that we should remember him every February 14th as Saint Valentine; the Saint of Love.
Others believe … Valentine was a physician who lived during the time of Emperor Claudius. A gastronomist, Valentine fell afoul of the Roman authorities when he converted to Christianity, and subsequently began treating the blind daughter of one of the Emperor's prison guards. When discovered, Valentine was arrested and consequently executed As he refused to renounce his religious beliefs. The condemned physician had fallen in love with his blind patient, and just before his death - on February 14, in 269 or 270 AD – he is supposed to have sent her a note, signed "from your Valentine"
This may have been the very first Valentine’s day card that began the widely spread tradition of sending Valentine’s cards on Valentine’s day.
During the ages this Roman holiday of love was associated with Cupid. In Roman mythology, Cupid, the son of Venus, is the god of desire, affection and love.
Alongside Cupid, the heart shape, accompanied by red and pink colours associated with love and romance, has also become widely used on St. Valentine’s Day cards and gifts. This is a widely recognised symbol of love.
These are also the most common colours of flowers such as roses, that are often given as gifts on this day.
St Valentine’s day in the 21st century is becoming increasingly commercialised, with people spending a great deal of money on cards, flowers, expensive gifts, food and drink. However, it is important to remind ourselves, that at it’s heart,remain the themes of love and affection; the very essence of what St. Valentine gave his life for. Perhaps this year, we might rise to the challenge to express our love and appreciation in words and deeds; keeping the costs to a minimum… Let’s see if we can get inspiration from others…
How I love you is said around the world Scotland Denmark Japan Philippines China
In China The Chinese also have a day devoted to love: Qi Qiao Jie – or the seventh eve – is often referred to as Chinese Valentine's Day. While the annual gift giving commonly associated with St. Valentine's Day doesn't take place, there are several charming customs associated with this romantic day for those in love: Valentine's Day in China, the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, will fall on August 28 this year. That is, on Sunday evening (Aug 27), Niu Lang and Zhi Nu will meet on a bridge of magpies across the Milky Way. Chinese grannies will remind children that they would not be able to see any magpies on that evening because all the magpies have left to form a bridge in the heavens with their wings. On this day Chinese girls prepare fruits, melons and incense as offerings to Zhi Nu, the weaving maiden, praying to acquire high skills in needlecraft, as well as hoping to find satisfactory husbands. In the evening, people sit outdoors to observe the stars.
The Myth Zhi Nu was said to be the youngest of seven daughters of the Queen of Heaven. With her sisters, she worked hard to weave beautiful clouds in the sky, while Niu Lang was a poor orphan, driven out of his home by his elder brother and his cruel wife. A cow was his only companion. The magical cow kindly told him of a way to find a beautiful and kind woman as his life partner. He was told to visit the river… Zhi Nu was bathing with her six sisters. Niu Lang took the dress of the youngest sister and hid it. As he had seen her undressed, they must be married. As Zhi Nu was a fairy, they were only allowed to meet one day a year; on the bridge of magpies. This day is Qi Qiao Jie – the Chinese Valentine’s day.
Fairy Of The Magpie Bridge Among the beautiful clouds, Over the heavenly river, Crosses the weaving maiden. A night of rendezvous, Across the autumn sky, Surpasses joy on earth. Moments of tender love and dream, So sad to leave the magpie bridge. Eternal love between us two, Shall withstand the time apart. One of the most famous poems about the legend was written by Qin Guan of the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
In Japan • In Japan, St. Valentine's Day is celebrated on two dates: February 14 and March 14. • On the first date, the female gives a gift to the male • And on the second date; known as White Day (and supposedly introduced by a marshmallow company in the 1960s...) the male has to return the gift he received on February 14. • Thus, strictly speaking, a Japanese female has the luxury of actually choosing her own gift. • Chocolate is the most popular gift in Japan. However, since most Japanese females believe that shop-bought chocolate is not a gift of true love, they tend to make the confection with their own hands.
In Scotland In Scotland, Valentine's Day is celebrated with a festival. At this festival, there is an equal number of unmarried males and females, each of whom write their name (or a made-up name) on a piece of paper which is then folded and placed into a hat...one hat for the ladies and one for the men. The females then draw a name from the hat containing the men's names and vice versa. Of course, it is highly likely that the two drawn names will not result in a long-term match! Gifts are given to the ladies. The females then pin the name of their partner over their hearts or on their sleeves. A dance often follows and, at the end of the festival, it is not unusual for marriages of other longer-established couples to take place. According to another Scottish custom, the first young man or woman encountered by chance on the street or elsewhere will become that individual's valentine. Valentine's Day gifts in Scotland are frequently given by both parties in the form of a love-token or true-love-knot.
In the Philippines While Valentine’s Day celebrations in the Philippines are similar to celebrations in Western countries, one tradition has swept the country and led to thousands of couples sharing a wedding day on February 14th. Mass wedding ceremonies have gained popularity in the Philippines in recent years, leading hundreds of couples to gather at malls or other public areas around the country to get married or renew their vows en masse. A couple displays their wedding rings during a mass wedding sponsored by the city of Paranaque, south of Manila, Philippines on Valentine's Day, 2012.
Right: In the Philippines’ capital, Manila, more than 700 couples, all residents of the city, tied the knot on Valentine’s Day, 2015 Left: Newly married couple Nonilon and Concepción Elizalde kiss following their participation in a mass wedding sponsored by the city of Paranaque (St. Valentine’s Day, 2012)
In Denmark The Danish valentine day’s card known as a lover's card came in the form of a transparency. When held up to the light showed a picture of a lover handing his love a gift. In Denmark, people swap poems and candy snowdrops. Some people also send love notes – not serious love notes but, laughable/comic ones which are called gaekkebrev which are also referred to as joking letters. On the gaekkebrev, the sender signs his or her name in dots. If the receiver guesses the correct name, then the sender will get a candy egg at Easter time.
What is love? This is a question that has puzzled poets and philosophers for many centuries. But all agree that love goes far beyond giving each other presents once a year. According to philosophers, poets, bloggers… Love is: • ‘Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage’ — Lao Tzu • ‘Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. With the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet’ – Plato • ‘Wanting to be there for each other through the good times and growing stronger together through the bad’ – unknown • ‘Love is putting someone else’s needs above your own’ – Susan Borowski
According to Song writers… The Beatles – All You Need is Love Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud When your legs don't work like they used to beforeAnd I can't sweep you off of your feetWill your mouth still remember the taste of my loveWill your eyes still smile from your cheeks And darling I will be loving you 'til we're 70And baby my heart could still fall as hard at 23And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious waysMaybe just the touch of a handOh me I fall in love with you every single dayAnd I just wanna tell you I am So honey nowTake me into your loving armsKiss me under the light of a thousand starsPlace your head on my beating heartI'm thinking out loudMaybe we found love right where we are Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love. There's nothing you can do that can't be done.Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.Nothing you can say, but you can learnHow to play the game It's easy… All you need is love, all you need is love,All you need is love, love. Love is all you need.Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.All you need is love, all you need is love,All you need is love, love. Love is all you need.
According to St. Paul: 4 Love is always patient and kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13: 4–8
Prayer for St. Valentine’s Day Heavenly Father, You gave Saint Valentine the courage to witness to the gospel of Christ, even to the point of giving his life for it. Help us to endure all suffering for love of you, and to seek you with all our hearts; for you alone are the source of life and love. Grant that we may have the courage and love to be strong witnesses of your truth to our friends and family and to the whole world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to St. Valentine Dear Saint and glorious martyr. Teach us to love unselfishly and to find great joy in giving. Enable all true lovers to bring out the best in God and in each other. Amen.
A Friend’s Prayer on St. Valentine’s Day I said a Valentine prayer for youand asked the Lord aboveto fill your heart and bless your soulWith the precious gift of love.I asked Him for sincere loveThe kind that's meant to stayJust like the generous loveYou give to those you meet each day. I prayed for love from familyAnd from every cherished friendThen I asked the Lord to give youHis love that knows no end.
