LEARN ALL ABOUT SHIPWRECKS IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF WORLD OF WONDER

Page 78 THE STAR-LEDGER Thursday, February 14, 2002

© 2002, Triefeldt Studios Inc.Distributed by United Feature Syndicate Inc.

The Star-Ledger — World of Wonder Attention: Laurie TriefeldtOne Star-Ledger Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102or e-mail: ltriefeldt@starledger.com

World of WonderEXPLORING THE REALMS OF HISTORY, SCIENCE, NATURE & TECHNOLOGY

SOURCES: World Book Encyclopedia, World Book Inc.;Encyclopedia Americana, Grolier Inc.; Romantic Valentines,Dan & Pauline Campanelli

The first valentineThere are many theories on how Valentine’s daybegan. Some historians believe the holiday goesback to ancient Roman times when a festivalcalled Lupercalia was held on February 15.Lupercalia was a fertility celebration, honoringJuno, queen of the Roman gods and goddess ofwomen and marriage. During the festival, womenwould write love notes called billets and put themin a large jar or urn. The men would select a noteand pursue the woman who’s name was on it.

Other scholars think that Valentine’s Day began inconnection with one or more early Christian saints.According to one legend, the Roman EmperorClaudius II (A.D. 200s) forbid all marriages, believ-ing that single men made better soldiers. But apriest named Valentine broke the law and marriedmany couples in secret. Another story tells of anearly Christian named Valentine who befriendedchildren. When he was imprisoned by the Romansfor his faith, Valentine’s little friends gave himnotes and cards through his jail window. This mayexplain the tradition of exchanging cards onValentine’s Day. Most of the Christian stories agreethat Valentine was killed by the Romans onFebruary 14 around A.D. 269. Saint Pope GelasiuisI declared February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day inA.D. 496

There is also an old English myth that claims onFebruary 14 the birds of spring choose mates. TheEnglish poets Geoffrey Chaucer and WilliamShakespeare make reference to Valentines Day and the birds choosing mates.

Some scholars think the Norman French word galantine which means gallant or lover may have created the link between St. Valentine and love.

Romantic customsIt is not known when people began to send cards and poems to each other onValentine’s Day. The tradition may date backto England in 1415 when the French Duke ofOrleans was captured and imprisoned duringwartime. It is said that he sent his wife a love poemfrom the Tower of London on February 14.

In the Middle Ages it was traditional to writewomen’s names on paper and put them into a jarfor a drawing or lottery. When a man chose a slipof paper, the woman who’s name was writtenon the paper became the mans Valentine.Some men gave their valentine gifts, otherswould wear their valentine’s name on theirsleeve, which is probably where the saying“wearing his heart on his sleeve” came from.

During the 1700s, women tried to find out whotheir future husbands might be by writing potentialsuitors names on scraps of paper. The paper wasrolled into balls of clay and dropped into water. Asthe clay melted away, the woman’s true love wouldbe the first note to rise to the surface.

Another way ladies tried to identify future husbands in the 1700s was to fasten five bayleaves to their pillows (one on each corner andone in the middle) on Valentine’s Day. The charmmade the ladies dream about who their husbandwould be.

The idea of sending love poemsand notes became popular inthe 18th and 19th centuries.People made their own valen-tines with verses copied frombooks sold especially for thispurpose. People didn’t begin tobuy premade valentines untilthe early 1800s.

What does it mean?Many symbols are used in connection withValentine’s Day. The most obvious symbol is that ofthe heart, which the ancients believed to be thesource of all emotions. Love knots are a symbol of

everlasting love — their winding, interlockingloops have no beginning or end. Doves aresymbols of loyalty and love. The ‘X’ for akiss began in Medieval times when peoplewho couldn’t sign their names made and‘X’. They kissed the ‘X’ to seal the deal andshow their sincerity. Chocolates are sym-

bolic of sweetness and affection. Symbolscan give extra meaning to the cards you make.

Around the worldToday, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many coun-tries. In the United States and Canada, childrendecorate their schools and homes with paperhearts. They make and exchange cards with familyand friends. Some schools have classroom partieswhere valentines are put into a decorated box andthen given to the teachers and students. Dances

and parties are often held for older students.

Gifts of candy in heart shaped boxes, flow-ers and romantic cards are exchangedbetween husbands and wives or sweet-hearts. Many couples go out for a specialromantic dinner.

In England, children sing valentine songsand exchange gifts of candy, fruit ormoney. In Italy a great feast is held onValentine’s Day and people often getengaged. China baskets filled withValentine goodies are sold in shops.

In Denmark, pressed white flowers calledsnowdrops are given to friends and lovers. Anunsigned humorous valentine letter called a

gaekkebrev (joking letter) is popular. If thewoman guesses the name of the man who sent it,he is supposed to give her an Easter egg at Easter.

Germans and Austrians share the American tradi-tion of giving roses and chocolates to their wivesand sweethearts.

In Spain it is traditional for the wife to give a gift toher husband. The husband gives flowers.

People began to make and sell valentines on acommercial level in the early 1800s. During thistime it also became affordable to mail valentines.(Previously postage was so expensive that cardswere almost always hand delivered.) The Britishartist Kate Greenaway was famous for her valen-tines decorated with lovely children and gardens.In the 1830s, Esther A. Howland, of Worchester,Massachusetts became the first American tomake mass-produced valentines. She hired a staffof women and set up an assembly line, onegroup glued on flowers, others added lace, andsome painted leaves.Her sales amountedto about $130,000annually. Todaythere are almost2,000 greetingcard publishers inthe United States.

Love birdsSome people believe that the first bird a maiden sees on Valentine’s Day will tell her whatsort of man she will marry. Yellow birds arethought to be especially lucky.

Blackbird A clergyman

Robin A sailor

Goldfinch A rich man

Sparrow A farmer

Bluebird A happy man

Crossbill An argumentative man

Dove A good man

W oodpecker No husband

Hundreds ofyears ago, children inEnglanddressed up as adults onValentine’s Daysinging songsdoor to door.

Making valentinesEarly valentines were handmade, painted with water-colors and ink on colored paper. And many of thetechniques are still fun to make today.

Pinprick valentines: You can poke holes in paperwith a pin to create the look of lace.

Cutout valentines: Cut out heart shapes. By foldingpaper over many times and cutting out small bits youcan make a lace design to glue on.

Acrostic valentines: Make a poem in which the first let-ter in the lines spell out the name of your valentine.

Rebus valentines: Write your valentine using small pic-tures in the place of some words. (For example, an eyeinstead of I).

Shell valentines: Lonely sailors of the Victorian eramade valentine boxes decorated with hearts and flowerdesigns made of sea shells. You could use pasta shellson paper or card board.

The language of flowers was developed in the1600s in Constantinople and Persia. Flowers aresymbolic of love blooming and also waning. Thered rose is very popular and was said to be thefavorite flower of Venus the goddess of love. Redis symbolic of strong emotions, yellow of jeal-ousy. Other flowers also have symbolic mean-

ings. The forget-me-not represents truelove. The Periwinkle is used to expressearly friendship (blue) and happy mem-ories (white). How you combined abouquet could say quite a lot.

The language of flowers

Cupid has played a role in thecelebrations of love and loverssince ancient times. In Greecehe was known as Eros, son ofAphrodite, the goddess of loveand beauty. To the Romans hewas Cupid, his mother Venus.This mischievous, winged childpierces the hearts of his victimswith invisible arrows, causingthem to fall deeply in love.

Lovebirds are small parrots from Africa.

Germany, C.1900. Germany,

C.1900.

American,C.1910.

American,1930s-40s

Forget-me-nots

Periwinkle

Violets

1930s

Commercial cards

I'm a little Valentine, Red and White.

With ribbons and lace, I'm a beautiful sight.

I can say ‘I love you’,On Valentines Day.

Just put me in an envelope, And give me away.

In Whales wooden lovespoons were carved and

decorated with hearts,keys and keyholes. Given

as gifts on Valentine’sDay, they were symbolicof unlocking the heart.

(This rhyme may be sung to thetune of ‘I’m a Little Teapot’)

VALENTINE’S DAY