Happy Saint Valentine’s Day!

This week we are celebratingSaint Valentine’s Day!

Here is some information and interesting facts about this holiday.

Saint Valentine’s Day, also known as Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a holiday celebrated on February 14 each year in many countries around the world. It is not a public holiday in most countries and over history it evolved into a holiday in which people express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as “valentines”). See the fact file below for more information on Valentine’s Day.

- Although no one knows for sure the exact origin of Valentine’s Day it is believe that it started in the Roman Empire around 270AD under the ruling of Claudius II.

- During time of war Claudius did not want men to get married because he believed it made them weak.

- It is said that Bishop Valentine would perform secret wedding ceremonies so men could marry their sweethearts.

- Bishop Valentine got in big trouble for performing marriage ceremonies and was sent to jail.

- While in jail Bishop Valentine wrote a love letter to the jailer’s daughter and signed from you Valentine.

- Bishop Valentine was put to death for his crime on February 14th.

- Why is the color red the symbol of Valentine’s Day? Red is the color of blood.  It was once believed that the heart (the body’s organ that pumps the blood) is that part of the body that the feeling of love came from.

- King Henry VII of England declared St. Valentine’s Day a holiday in 1537.

- During Medieval Times girls would eat unusual foods on Valentine’s Day.  It was believed that it made them have dreams about their future husband.

- During the Middle Ages men and women would pick names out af a bowl and the person’s name they drew would be considered their Valentine.  They would wear that person’s name on their sleeve for a week.  This is where the saying wear your heart on your sleeve comes from.

- The oldest known Valentine’s Day card is on display at the British Museum in London.  It’s dates back to the 1400’s.

- The first box of chocolates for made for Valentine’s Day was made by Richard Cadbury in the 1800’s. This helped start the tradition of giving chocolate for Valentine’s Day.

- Valentine’s Day is celebrated in America, Italy, United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, France, Australia and Denmark.

- In Shakespeare’s play  Romeo and Juliet it is said that they lived in Verona Italy.  Every year thousands of Valentine’s Day cards at sent to Verona addressed to Juliet.

- It is believed that the tradition of giving red roses for Valentine’s Day has to with the Greek Mythology Goddess Aphrodite.  Aphrodite is the goddess of love, beauty and pleasure.  In Roman Mythology Venus is the goddess of love.

- Who is Cupid and what does he have to do with Valentine’s Day? Cupid is the Roman god of desire, erotic love and affection.  In Latin (ancient language) Cupid means Amor. Amor in English means love.

- Did you know that Groundhog’s Day was originally held on February 14th?

- That’s all about it for the year. We congratulate all our students on this most romantic holiday and wish the love to be in every moment of our lives.

Happy Saint Valentine’s Day!