How about you? Do you have any special thoughts or ideas you'd like to share? Maybe, you've written a poem or have instructions for making a great gift. Would you like to share a special Valentines Day in your life with us? Maybe you became engaged or married on Valentines Day. Here's the place to share your favorite memories or ideas. Just e-mail your contributions. We'll see that they are posted on this page.
PAST AND PRESENT
Here are some other Valentine's traditions and superstitions you might find interesting.
In the Middle Ages, the names would be placed in a bowl from which young men and women would draw their Valentine. The name they drew would be worn on their sleeves for one week. Now, to wear your heart on your sleeve means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.
In England, hundreds of years ago, children would dress up as adults on Valentine's Day. They would go from home to home singing verses. One popular verse they sang was:
Curl your locks as I do mine---
Two before and three behind.
Good morning to you, valentine.
The first true Valentine card was sent in 1415 by a young frenchman, Charles duke of Orleans, who was imprisoned in the Tower of London at the time. He sent several poems or rhymed love letters or "valentines" (known as "poetical or amorous addresses.") to his wife in France.
During the seventeenth century people made their own valentines using original verses or poems copied from booklets with appropriate verses.
In Wales, wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on Valentine's Day. Favorite decorations on the spoons,which meant "You unlock my heart!" were hearts, keys and keyholes.
In some countries, a young man may give a gift of clothing to a young woman. If she chooses to keep the gift, it signifies she will marry him.
Some believed that if, on Valentine's Day, a woman spotted a robin flying overhead, it meant she would marry a sailor. If it was a sparrow spotted, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If a goldfinch seen, she would marry a millionaire.
As you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names of five or six boys or girls you might marry, until the stem breaks off. The person whose name you were saying when the stem broke off, is the person you will marry.
With a deep breath, blow the seeds of a dandelion that has gone to seed into the wind. The number of seeds that remain on the stem is the number of children you will have.
Counting the number of seeds an apple cut in half, will also tell you how many children you will have.
If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will also know how many children you will have.
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