Valentine

[fpb]

Some nice person has sent me a virtual gift of chocolates. This would be just a pleasant way to underline the day, but what the person concerned cannot possibly have known is that this is the first time anyone has sent anything to me for St.Valentine's day in all my life. So thank you very much, Anonymous, you've made my day.

Comments

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Wrong on both counts, luckily. St.Valentine was executed, according to the story, for illegally marrying a centurion and a Christian girl when the reigning Emperor had forbidden soldiers to marry. That is why he is the patron saint of engaged couples. And there is at least one other February sacred day, namely Candlemas (8 Feb, I think), though it is disused today. In Catholic countries, Carnival falls most often in February, since it has to come forty-one days before Easter; and I can tell you that Carnival is HUGE in Italy.

[redcoast.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know about St. Valentine, but the idea that Hallmark came up with the way to celebrate it is pretty common around here.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Maybe they did. After all, they or people like them invented Mother's Day, Father's Day, and an increasing proliferation of other "days". Even Christmas cards were only invented about 1842, I think.

[redcoast.livejournal.com]

It's funny that the widespread cynacism is widely acknowledged except by the mainstream media. I mean, they don't get anything out of it!