Friday, February 11, 2011
Hello. Anyone celebrate Valentine's day ? Yeah. Valentine's day is on February 14th. Honestly, I'm not celebrating it. First, it because not my culture and I don't have a boyfriend yet. Hahahaha. Yeah I know, Valentine's day is not always celebrated with our boyfriend or girlfriend. But still identically with it.
The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed "From your Valentine," an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to "christianize" celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.
To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.
The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman "lottery" system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February — Valentine's Day — should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.
In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.
According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)
Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap."
So, do you want to know, how is the Valentine's day celebration in many country ? I will post some of their celebration :
1. Valentines Day Traditions In Britain
Of the various customs popular in England, penning of verses of love affairs and matters of heart is the most fascinating way to honor the Saint patron of love, the immortal St. Valentine. In various parts of the United Kingdom, celebrations take place according to the customs and traditions and as the day approaches, all magazines and tabloids are readying for the day and they publish sonnets and verses to commemorate St Valentine's Day.
2. Valentines Day traditions In Australia
The gold miners in Australia who were blushing with new found wealth from the Ballarat mines were willing to pay a princely sum for making elaborate valentines. The merchants in Australia would generally send orders of a thousand pounds at a time to make the Valentines Day grander. The most profligate of valentines were made of a satin cushion and ornately designed with flowers, colored shells, ribbons etc. All this work was kept in a neatly adorned box.
In some countries like Austria and Germany there has long been a tradition for men to buy their sweethearts flowers on Valentine's Day. An interesting facet of this tradition is that men have to pay attention to the type of flowers their sweet hearts like- both in terms of color and fragrance. In Germany it has become a kind of must for the lovers, husbands or people who are courting, to give gifts and flowers to their loved ones on Valentines Day.
It adds romance and excitement to the occasion. Here various gifts in the shape of love symbols would be given with romantic love messages written all over. On the occasion of the Valentines Day the husbands give presents of chocolates and roses to their wives. Even the certificates of baptism and marriage were thought to be given as Valentines Day gifts but these were more likely to be decorative and pictorial. These would be accompanied by love messages and romantic verses.
3. Valentine’s Day Traditions in India
In India, Valentine’s Day is most popular among the youngsters. They celebrate it with much excitement than anybody else. You can see umpteen numbers of boys and girls doing a parade on the sleek city streets of India with romance on their face on the Valentine’s Day. Adrenaline rush of Valentine’s Day festival can be experienced weeks before the festival. All of the gift shops will be ready for the fest, much before the day. The media also make more people to be aware about the day of love celebration. Greeting cards plays a very important role on Valentine’s Day in India.
Famous greeting card companies in India make almost 80 crores turn over on every Valentine’s Day. In street side shops, people come to sell red roses and red tulips to lovers. They also make a fortune out of the Valentine’s Day. Chocolate candies and ice creams sell like wild fire in India on Valentine’s Day. Teenage girls and boys usually hangout at the lounges, coffee shops and other good restaurant on these days. Pubs and disco bars are also getting booked before the day. India in a way follows the American style of commercialization of Valentine’s Day.
Teddy bears are also considered as very good gifts for girls on valentine days. Boys are hot consumers for teddy bears because they know it will make their girl friends happy. Personalized gifts like Love maps, photo collages, gift baskets containing many rare things which is favored by the lover are also hot gifts in India on the valentine’ day. Jewelry is one of the main gifts exchanged between husband and wife on Valentine’s Day in India. India is famous for its bah zillions designs of gold ornaments. Indian women consider gold ornaments as a symbol of love. Many different shows are organized in cities for the people wanting to have a good time with their near and dear ones. Games and competitions are arranged for kids in shopping malls.
4. Valentine's Day Tradition in South Africa
In South Africa, Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14. In some places, the girls pin the name of the boy they love on their sleeve. These traditions follow the old festival of "Lupercalia," the Roman festival celebrated on February 15.
*Historical Notes: Lupercalia was celebrated by the Romans on February 15. The festival took place on Palatine Hill, in a cave called Lupercal. This is the supposed place where Romulus and Remus (founders of Rome) were nursed by a wolf.
5. Valentine's Day in China
The Qi Xi Festival is the Chinese equivalent of Valentine's Day. It is, however, not celebrated on 14 February like the rest of the world, but is guided by the lunar calendar -- falling on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar each year. In 2009, Qi Xi was observed on 26 August, while in 2010 this date will be 16 August.
Legends surround the genesis of Qi Xi but the common thread of a tragic love story runs through all of them. It is believed that it is on this Chinese Valentine's Day the star-crossed couple -- a cowherd and a weaver -- meets in heaven each year. Having been banished for an eternity of separation by the Goddess of Heaven, it is only once a year that she relents and allows magpies to build a bridge for them to meet.
On this day, young, unmarried girls engage in melon carving and demonstrate their other domestic skills as they wish for a good husband.
6. Valentine's day in South Korea
Valentine's Day is on February 14 in Korea. On that day, many girls and young women give candies to their boyfriends.
There is another special day like Valentine's Day in Korea. We call that day 'White Day." White Day is on March 14. It is just the contrary of Valentine's Day. Many boys and young men give chocolates to their girl friends. Some confess their love to their girlfriends on that day, so many young women look forward to it.
Lots of shops display a variety of chocolates and candies before both Valentine's Day and White Day. Downtown is crowded with many young people who want to enjoy those days.
But young people who had no girlfriend or boyfriend didn't like those days because they spent them alone. So, they made another special day called 'Black Day' for themselves.
Black Day is on April 14. On this day, they have Jajang noodles with their friends who are in the same situation. Jajang noodles are black, so that is why they call it Black Day. However, it is still not as popular as Valentine's Day and White Day.
7. Valentine's day in America
Valentine's Day has become a largely commericialized phenomenon in the United States. Stores stock Valentine's Day-themed plush animals, snacks, gifts, cards, and many other products to capitalize on the holiday's popularity.
Some people choose not to celebrate the holiday because of the large amount of commercialism that surrounds the day. Others celebrate "Singles Awareness Day" on February 14th to celebrate not having a significant other.
Popular Valentine's Day gifts include cards, chocolate candies, flowers, jewelry, and other tokens of affection. Many make handmade gifts for their friends, families, or significant others to express their affections.
Teenagers and adults often look for dates or go out as a couple to celebrate the February 14th holiday. Outings can range from a dinner and a movie to weekend vacations at resorts or in nearby cities. Adults may also hold private parties or attend public parties to celebrate with large groups of friends.
Elementary schools, preschools, and day cares may also host classroom Valentine's Day parties, where each student brings in enough small Valentine's Day cards for the entire class. Prior to the event, students may decorate bags or boxes to hold Valentine's Day goodies until the day of the classroom party, which often involves snacks, games, or a craft activity.
Valentine's Day is a popular holiday celebrated by many people around the world. In the United States, Valentine's Day celebrations include a mix of commercialism and sentimentality that varies from couple to couple and region to region.
8. Valentine's Day in France
At previous time, a French Valentine's Day custom that is now illegal is the "une loterie d'amour," which was eventually banned by the French government because its practice got too uncontrollable.
During "une loterie d'amour," single men and women would enter houses that faced opposite each other and call to one another until they had paired off. If a man was not particularly happy with his chosen partner, he would simply leave the undesirable match for another woman.
After the pairing off had finished, women who were left single built a large ceremonial bonfire and burned images of men who had hurt them. During this ritual, the women would also yell abusive remarks and swear at the men. This was the aspect of the celebration that got too out of control to allow the custom to continue.
It is also traditional for people to visit the town of Saint Valentin in Indre, which is named after Saint Valentine. The village holds many fesitvals and events related to the February 14th holiday, including marriage vow renewals.
But today, the French celebrate Valentine's Day like people in many other countries by exchanging cards, small gifts, and words of affection. Fresh flowers are also a popular item to send or receive on this holiday.
It is said that the first modern Valentine's Day card was sent by a Frenchmen. Supposedly, Charles the Duke of Orleans sent the first modern Valentine's Day card, along with poems and other love letters, to his wife from his cell in the Tower of London after being captured by the British at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
Valentine's Day is a day meant to celebrate the affections among people in various kinds of relationships. Individual cultures have unique ways of commemorating the day and cherishing the relationships that hold them together.
Before, Mexican culture emphasizes the expression of one's feelings as a part of everyday life. Respect and the emotional value of an individual is very influential in Mexican culture and forms the basis of many Mexican traditions, customs, and societal norms.
A person's feelings are often shown on Valentine's Day through simple gifts and gestures, such as flowers, balloons, and small gifts. Children in Mexican schools often have contests to compose small poems to attach to balloons.
Today, Valentine's Day is one of the most popular holidays in Mexico.
The holiday is often celebrated by decorating with balloons, flowers, hearts, and other symbols of affection. Flower arrangements and gifts are often exchanged, with heart-shaped arrangements made with red roses are a popular item to send and receive in honor of the February 14th holiday.
Flowers are a play a large part in the Mexican Valentine's Day celebration. Flowers and floral arrangements are popular gifts to send and receive to friends, family, and lovers to mark the occasion. Many flowers are also bought for decorative purposes.
Elegant dances and balls are also planned in Mexico to celebrate Valentine's Day. Guests dress up and celebrate the holiday together at parties, dances, and balls as a formal way to celebrate and express their emotions for their loved ones.
Couples celebrate Valentine's Day by dining out for a meal. Having dinner reservations has been said to be such a popular way to celebrate Valentine's Day that those without reservations made weeks in advance may not be able to find a table at most restaurants on that night or during the entire weekend.
Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated by many people all over the world as a way to commemorate the affections that people share with friends, family, and loved ones. The Mexican people celebrate Valentine's Day as a special day to honor and commemorate the feelings that they share with one another every day, but with an extra special reason.
10. Valentine's Day in Germany
The celebration of Valentine's Day as we know it today with the cards giving ritual and the little heart shaped gifts or chocolates, spread out from France and England to other countries such as Canada and USA. As mentioned earlier, this celebration is quite recent in Germany. It is thought to have started only after the second world war and it is really aimed towards adults only; no cute little heart shaped cards being given between kids at school. It is a strictly "mature subject".
As in all other countries celebrating it, you will find in German stores a full range of romantic paraphernalia; gifts and cards and chocolates specifically made for Valentine's Day. All in pink and red, of course!
But you will also find an interesting little German twist to these Valentine's objects: the addition of a pig! Thus, you can find little pigs offering flowers, or others laying down on chocolate hearts in rather provocative postures.
These little pigs are the symbol of luck but also of lust. Thus, for extra luck with the love one or the would be Valentine, there are some pigs holding a 4 leaves clover while climbing a little ladder on a heart.
Another important item of Valentine's day in Germany is the big ginger cookies, made in the shape of a heart and decorated with frosting. They usually have a few words written on them such as: meine Shatzi, Ich liebe dich, etc.
As Germany is much more liberal in matters of sex and erotica than North American countries, you will also find that some of these cookies have messages that are rather more "direct" as to the lover's intentions than your usual "I love you!"
You can find these cookies for sale in the Weihnachtsmarkt before Christmas too, but they are really popular at Valentine's day.
And while you are in Germany, why not take the time to go to a romantic diner with your lover in one of its numerous castles?
Many of these beautiful old buildings have been renovated to accommodate guests, either for a night in a royal en-suite bedroom, or for an unforgettable meal in a romantic atmosphere that only soft candlelight can create.
So. for you who celebrate Valentine's day, which one do you like ? Hmmm .. I think whatever the way to celebrate it, but we have a love in our heart to the people who we love. Not just on February, 14th. Love someone is everyday. With our power of love, everyday is Valentine's day.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE !! :D
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