Tuesday, February 13, 2007

VALENTINES DAY

VALENTINE’S DAY

Aside
I sympathise with people who think it is a big ‘rip off’ but all I would say is if your partner is a romantic would it be so hard to recognise it and make a gesture?

My Choice for today February 14th 2007

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come:

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.



William Shakespeare

(1564 - 1616)


MTL’s choice































































Valentine Day History according to Google
There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.
Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.
In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's and now the date is very commercialised. The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business around February 14. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.
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5 comments:

Witty Woman said...

I agree with you about making a gesture. This year was my first Valentine's Day with my partner and we'd only known each other 3 mths the day before. He thinks it's all commercial hogwash, but he still got me a card and bought me a present because he knows I'm a romantic idiot (although I also agree that it's romantic hogwash!).

Witty Woman said...

I agree with you about making a gesture. My new partner thinks it's all commercial hogwash, but he still gave me a card and a present because he knew I wanted to make something of it as it our first Valentine's Day and I'm a romantic idiot. I also think it's over-commercialised, but I still rather like it.

Pat said...

Hi witty woman and welcome! I'm glad you agree with me and your new love sounds promising. After all it is simply caring more about your loved one than sticking to your hide bound principles which I'm sad to say are often based on parsimony.

granny p said...

I love that poem. MTL is spot on. To mention new blogger problems...I know it's on later post, but never mind - I've gone halves - loaded new blogger - easy and much faster, but stuck with the old template rather than going into layout. Have got layout on Lifting the World, and it is better and easier - but not worth the hassle of having to shift all the stuff lost from the old template. If they let you have the layout plus your old stuff - no problem. But they don't. And am told by Clare, the computer genius, that it would be difficult for them to do it...

PS. Wish my Beloved believed in Valentine's Day. He doesn't. Calls it a commercial ramp. He had a point of course. But.

Pat said...

grannyp: great minds...I have done the same; changed to New Blogger without altering a thing. Took me a while to get used to the comment thing but it seems to be working. Hallelujah!
I sympathise with your PS. I had the same for years.