Every year vast amounts of cash are spent on cards, flowers, jewellery, and other gifts for Valentines Day and each year there seems to be more. More advertising for it as well. Thus commercialism has made the 14th February one of the most publicized money spenders. Jewellery gifts of hearts and “Love” bracelets, necklaces, ring, and earrings, are always in demand in gold, silver, and platinum.
This is not only a modern idea. It actually dates far back to historical times mainly to the celebration of the Roman festival Lupercalia devoted to the God of Agriculture. Can be attributed to Romulus and Remus, who, supposedly, founded Rome. This festive occasion took place about the 14-15th February.
According to legend, there used to be a gathering of priests at a cave considered to be sacred. There they sacrificed a goat to promote fertility and a dog for purification. Tearing the goats hide into strips the priests would then go and slap the crops in the fields and the women tending to them as an encouragement for them to conceive. The women then put their names into an urn. Then the young men of the area would choose a name from it and that women would be his constant companion for the year.
According to another fable the Emperor Claudius ll believed single men made better soldiers than married ones. So he forbade marriage for those in the military. Apparently, Valentine disagreed with this and he continued to perform marriages in secret. Upon being discovered he was put to death.
A third story about Valentine claims he helped Christians escape from the severe conditions of the Roman prisons. Caught and imprisoned himself he fell in love with his jailor’s blind daughter who used to visit him. Before his death wrote her a good-bye love letter which he signed “from your Valentine”.
During the Middle Ages Valentine greetings became popular and by the middle of the 18th century, it was the norm to give handwritten notes of affection and other romantic notions on 14th February, with printed cards in fashion by 1900.
All this is in the past, but, the celebration of St. Valentines Day is considered as an ongoing day of love and romance worldwide.
See the selection of Jewellery for giving your loved one at Edellie jewellery online shop.
