BOB's BLOG - Friday 7 February 2025
- Rob Kelly
- Feb 10
- 3 min read
Welcome to the end of the week! It's time for Bob's Blog. This week I'm giving all you lovers a heads up... Next Friday is Valentine's Day. In case you were wondering about the origins of this Hallmark Holiday please read on!
What Valentine's Day Is All About: A Journey Through Love, Letters, and Literary Tradition
Love is in the air as February 14th approaches, but how did this celebration of romance become such a global phenomenon? From ancient Roman festivals to modern-day poetry competitions, Valentine's Day has evolved into much more than just a date on the calendar.
The Origins: A Tale of Saints and Secret Messages
The story begins with Saint Valentine, but which one? The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus. The most famous legend tells of a third-century Roman priest who defied Emperor Claudius II's ban on marriages for young soldiers. Valentine continued to perform secret weddings, eventually paying for his devotion to love with his life.
Another fascinating detail: the first "valentine" may have been written from prison. According to tradition, Valentine himself sent the first valentine greeting to his jailer's daughter, signing it "From your Valentine" – a phrase that continues to capture hearts today.
Why February 14th?
The timing of Valentine's Day may have more to do with birds than saints! Medieval Europeans believed February 14th was the beginning of birds' mating season. Geoffrey Chaucer mentioned this in his poem "Parliament of Fowls," writing: "For this was on Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird comes there to choose his mate."
The date also coincides with the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a fertility celebration that occurred between February 13-15. The Christian church may have placed St. Valentine's feast day in February to "Christianize" these pagan celebrations.
Global Love Language: Valentine's Day Around the World
While Valentine's Day originated in Western culture, it has been embraced worldwide with unique local twists:
In Japan, women traditionally give chocolate to men on February 14th, while men reciprocate on "White Day" (March 14th)
South Korea celebrates love on the 14th of every month, each with its own theme
In Wales, lovers exchange intricately carved wooden spoons rather than cards
Denmark's tradition involves sending pressed white flowers called snowdrops
The Art of Romance: From Letters to Literature
The tradition of sending love letters and poems has been central to Valentine's Day for centuries. The oldest known valentine still in existence is a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife in 1415 while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
This brings us to our exciting announcement: [Cafe Name]'s Valentine's Poetry Competition! Drawing inspiration from centuries of romantic verse, we're inviting local poets to share their modern takes on the love poem. Whether you're channeling Elizabeth Barrett Browning or taking a more contemporary approach, we want to hear your voice.
Did You Know? Valentine's Day Fun Facts
The first heart-shaped box of chocolates was introduced by Richard Cadbury in 1861
Teachers receive the most Valentine's Day cards, followed by children, mothers, and wives
In Victorian times, receiving certain flowers had specific meanings: red roses for love, pink for friendship, and yellow for jealousy
The X symbol became associated with kisses because illiterate people used to sign documents with an X, then kiss it to show sincerity
Join Our Celebration of Love and Literature
Visit Tried & True over the next week to pick up a Love Poem Entry Form and share your writing talents with the T&T Community. There are fun prizes to be won and we'll share the best poems in the cafe and on social media.
Whether you're a hopeless romantic or a curious historian, Valentine's Day offers something for everyone. It reminds us that love – in all its forms – has been inspiring creativity and connection for centuries.
Join us in celebrating this timeless tradition of expressing love through words. After all, as Shakespeare wrote, "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind."
If you can't make it into the cafe over the next week you can still enter your poem online for your chance to win!
We look forward to seeing you soon!
BOB 07 February 2025
Keywords: Valentine's Day history, love poems, romantic traditions, poetry competition, Saint Valentine, love letters, romantic customs, Valentine's Day origins, romance writing, literary Valentine's, February 14 history
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