97 more days...

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The History of Saint Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.

The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.

Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom, indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honour of a heathen god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.

The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavoured to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine's Day for the celebration of this new feaSt. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose in this way.

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In Roman mythology, Cupid is the god of love, and the son of Venus. In ancient Greece, he was known as Eros, son of Aphrodite.

According to Roman mythology, Venus became jealous of a beautiful maiden named Psyche. She ordered Cupid to punish the maiden. But Cupid fell in love with Psyche. The two married, but as a mortal she was forbidden to look at him. Pysche's sisters would later convince her to look at Cupid. When she did, Cupid punished her by leaving her. Their beautiful surroundings, including their castle and gardens, were gone too. Left with nothing, Psyche wandered in search of her lost love. She would eventually arrive at the temple of Venus, who wanted to destroy her.

Venus gave Psyche a series of tasks, each more dangerous than the last. For her final task, Psyche was sent to the underworld with a small box. She was told to use the box to collect some of the beauty of Proserpine, the wife of Pluto.

Psyche was warned not to open the box, but temptation would overcome her. When she opened the box, Psyche fell into a death-like sleep.

When Cupid found her lifeless on the ground, he woke her, and all was forgiven. The gods, moved by Psyche's love for Cupid, made her a goddess.

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Let's Speak Italian - Test!

as promised....Did you study?

Many Italian words have been adopted by the English language and are now so very common that you probably don't even realize just how much Italian you already know and speak every day! In this fun test, you will see a list of brief definitions listed below. The first person who correctly identifies all the corresponding Italian words and lists their answers in the comment section will be the winner! Sharpen your pencils and wit...I'm throwing in one U.S. dollar to the winner to make it interesting!* Buona Fortuna!

Example: A hot beverage consisting of espresso coffee and steamed milk - Answer: Cappuccino

*Void where prohibited. Author of this blog entry is the sole judge and can not be challenged. Contest will not be audited and all decisions are final. If winner can not be contacted, runner up will be awarded the one U.S. dollar prize and assume all responsibilities as the winner. In the event of a tie, correct spelling will determine the winner. Winner will be announced on Sunday evening at 9:00pm in the comments section below.

1. Squid appetizer

2. Pink lunch-meat

3. Bits of paper thrown at celebrations

4. A preserved cherry

5. To sing or be alone

6. Short knife or woman's high heel

7. Molton rock

8. Dancer on tip-toe

9. Portable case for holding loose papers

10. Has black and white keys

11. Hell fire

12. Landing docks for boats

13. High platform surrounded by railing

14. Shallow pie with tomato and cheese

15. Dried flour paste used in cooking

16. Gambling parlor (Mom BETTER get this one!)

17. To tag with spray paint

18. Large hairy spider

19. Boat race

20. The grand end

...only 97 more days!

Cruise along and enjoy....^_~

Karen