The winged Roman version of the Greek god of love, Eros - child of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty - Venus to the Romans. The Latin translation of 'Cupido', means Desire/lust.
This pretty, young boy, a symbol of Love, flys blindfolded on golden wings armed with his bow and arrows - setting hearts on fire. Love is often depicted by two hearts pierced by an arrow - Cupid's arrow.
'Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind'.
William Shakespeare
At night put yarrow under your pillow, and the first person you see when you leave home will be your future spouse.
If you visit a cemetery on St Valentine's Eve at midnight and walk around the church 12 times, you should dream of your future husband.
To gain the love of someone, on a night of the full moon, walk to a spot underneath your love's bedroom window and whisper their name three times into the wind.
To meet your future spouse count seven stars on seven successive nights, and on the eighth day the first person with whom you shake hands will be your wife or husband.
It was a popular belief that the birds choose their mates on the feast of
Valentine - their patron saint.
It is also traditionally believed that a girl is able to tell what sort of
man she will marry by the first bird she sees on St. Valentine's day.
Blackbird - Priest
Robin - Sailor
Goldfinch (any yellow bird) - a rich man
Sparrow - Farmer
Any blue bird - a happy man
Dove - a loving man
Woodpecker - will not marry
If a hen and cockerel are seen together on this day, it indicates that she
will marry the next year.
lovebirds
Top Romantic Films
1. Casablanca
2. Brief Encounter
3. Wuthering Heights
4. Ghost
5. Bridget Jones's Diary
6. The English Patient
7. Titanic
8. Shakespeare in Love
9. When Harry met Sally
10. Four Weddings and a Funeral
11. Pretty Woman
1. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë
2. Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë
3. Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
4. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
5. Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis de Bernieres
6. The Sonnets - William Shakespeare
1. Angels - Robbie Williams
2. Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
3. Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
4. Eternal Flame - The Bangles
5. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
I ne'er was struck before that hour
With love so sudden and so sweet.
Her face it bloomed like a sweet flower
And stole my heart away complete.
I never saw so sweet a face
As that I stood before.
My heart has left its dwelling place
And can return no more.
John Clare
St. Valentine was a priest in Rome, and was condemned to death on February
14th 269 A.D. after it was discovered that he had been helping Christian martyrs
and secretly marrying couples. The emperor Claudius II had prohibited men in
his army to marry, as he felt their strength would be sapped!
Before his execution St.Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter,
signed 'From Your Valentine', and so began the tradition of sending a card
from a secret admirer.
'My true love hath my heart and I have his,
By just exchange one for the other giv'n'.
Philip Sidney
Feb 14th was the eve of the Roman Feast of Lupercalia, when the names of girls
were written on paper and placed into jars. Young men would draw a name for
their partner for the festival. It was hoped that this 'love lottery' would
find them romance. Lupercalia was a feast to celebrate Pan, a god who among
other tasks kept the wolves away from the flocks. During the celebration
a sacrifice of goats would be made, and the forehead of two young boys would
be marked with blood. The boys would then run through the streets lashing
everyone with strips of the goats' skins. Women believed that being struck
with the sacred skins would help them conceive.
Valentine Customs
valentine card
Valentine Cards
Sending your loved one a card on Valentine's day has been with us properly
since the 1800's when commercial valentines were first introduced. Early examples
were expensive card creations in lace and satin. Cheaper printed cards slowly
became popular, with humorous anti-Valentines joining the romantic cards.
Valentine's Day
Is a wonderful way
To make "I love you"
Easy to say'.
Nicholas Gordon
In Wales carved wooden lovespoons were given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts,
keys and padlocks were favourite decorations on the spoons, symbolising an
'unlocking' of the heart. lovespoons
'How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach.'
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
To discover your true love
Before you go to sleep put bay leaves on the corners of your pillow, and one
in the centre. Close your eyes and repeat these words 7 times, counting up
to seven between each repetition:
'Dear Guardian Angel, let me have what I so earnestly do crave
A Valentine imbued with love, who will both true and constant prove.'
Your true love should appear to you in a dream.
To attract love into your life
Using a thorn from a white rose bush, scratch the words:
'All my love come to me' 3 times on a white candle and light it.
Watch as the candle burns down, and picture your love coming to embrace you.
When the candle burns down, collect the wax and wrap it up. You should soon
receive all the love that this person has for you.
To bring your love to you
Light a red candle, hold a crystal near your heart, close your eyes and say
3 times:
'Let the love that I am seeking come into my life.'
Visualise your love bathed in white light and feel the energy flow into your
heart. Imagine this light pouring from you into the crystal, then holding the
crystal in both hands blow out the candle.
Keep the crystal with you until your wish is fulfilled.
Rub a few drops of the aromotherapy oil Rosehip on the inside of your wrists,
before meeting your desired one.
Valentine heart
red rose
The flowers you send your Valentine also carry a meaning, send the following
blooms in your bouquet and you will be sending the message:
Anemone - a dying love
A yellow Crocus worn in the buttonhole on St. Valentine's day will entice your
future intended love
Daisy - innocence
Forget-me-not - true love and constancy
Fuchsia - elegance
Lily - purity
Pansy - loving thoughts
Periwinkle - early friendship
Poppy - consolation
Snowdrop - hope
Sunflower - warmth of feeling
Tulip - a declaration of powerful love(red), hopeless love (yellow)
Add rose bud petals to your bath water to conjure up a lover.
Put red rose petals in a red velvet bag and pin this under your clothes to
attract love.
A rose given with its thorns removed, but still with its leaves means:
'I am no longer afraid to reveal my feelings; I live in hope.'
A rose without its leaves and thorns sends the message:
'There is nothing to hope or fear.'
Red - true love
White - I love you not
Yellow - jealousy
Pink - innocent love and happiness
Orange - I love you vigorously
Purple - I will love you forever
Wild rose - uncontrollable desire
Moss rose - I admire you from afar
red rose
How do I love thee?
How many roses you send your love has a meaning - Ten roses says 'You are perfect'
, a dozen means 'Be Mine' and if you push the boat out to 24 you are saying
'Forever yours', in the language of flowers.
Food of love
valentine chocolates
Serving love food can be fun on Valentine’s Day – especially using aphrodisiac ingredients.
Over the centuries people have often looked to food for its libido enhancing properties ... as the saying goes 'the way to a man's heart is thro' his stomach!
Almond - the aroma is thought to arouse women
Asparagus - this erotic shaped veg is considered an effective stimulant
Avocado - sensuous textured fruit, called ahucatl by the Aztecs - which translated
is 'testicle'.
Bananas - phallic shaped fruit, rich in B vitamins believed to help manufacture
sex hormones.
Carrots - an effective aphrodisiac for men
Caviar - full of vitamins and minerals and sexy due to its luxury status
Champagne - the bubbles take the alcohol straight into the bloodstream
Chocolate - contains natural stimulants - chemicals thought to effect neurotransmitters
in the brain, producing passionate feelings
Figs - Cleopatra's favourite fruit, in S.Europe figs are thrown at weddings
as a sign of fertility.
Ginger- a stimulant to the circulatory system
Nutmeg - the Chinese believe this spice is a powerful aphrodisiac, especially
for the male
Oysters - this sensual food is very nutritious and high in protein
Truffles - the Greeks and Romans believed the Truffle's musky scent stimulated
and sensitized the skin to touch.
Could be the ideal Valentine gift!
valentine hearts
Valentine Cards with a loving touch
If you plan well ahead and you want to give your Valentine card that extra
romantic touch, then send your pre-addressed, pre-stamped Valentine’s
card inside a larger envelope to the post office at the address below, and
get your card franked with a 'Lover' stamp:
Or send it to Loveland,
Colorado. The post office will postmark it LOVEland, Colorado and it
will also be hand-stamped with a love poem. Send your pre-addressed, pre-stamped
Valentine’s card inside a larger envelope to: Postmaster
Attn: Valentine Re-mailing
446 E. 29th St.
Loveland, CO 80538-9998
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