Pagan Hearts

Just like Christmas and Easter, Valentine’s Day has its roots in all things pagan.

Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.
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Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity and but was outlawed—as it was deemed “un-Christian”–at the end of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day.

Ah yez, another Christian celebration born of pagan (and Norman) fun time festivities. There were a few different Saint Valentines, all martyrs, but it looks like Valentine’s Day is the “Christianization” of Lupercalia.

During this festival, men would strip naked and swat young maidens with dog- or goat-skin whips, to increase their fertility.

During this festival, men would strip naked and swat young maidens with dog- or goat-skin whips, to increase their fertility. - See more at: http://www.ancient-origins.net/history/day-love-complex-origins-valentine-s-day-002672#sthash.DVrS5xcP.dpuf

During this festival, men would strip naked and swat young maidens with dog- or goat-skin whips, to increase their fertility. - See more at: http://www.ancient-origins.net/history/day-love-complex-origins-valentine-s-day-002672#sthash.DVrS5xcP.dpuf

During this festival, men would strip naked and swat young maidens with dog- or goat-skin whips, to increase their fertility. - See more at: http://www.ancient-origins.net/history/day-love-complex-origins-valentine-s-day-002672#sthash.DVrS5xcP.dpuf

Ancient Rome's 50 Shades of Grey?

Sorry Coco, no catnip in there...yet.

Then Hallmark, those commercialism crusaders, got into the game and the rest is....well, insecurity, anger, sadness, guilt and scrambling at the last minute to get a token for your sweetie that doesn’t reek of Oops, I forgot!

L&G by Emma Florence Harrison

OK, OK, it can also be a lovely day BUT I really hate being told Here’s a special day—celebrate your love NOW! I wanna do things when I wanna do them. All of my chums, who’s birthdays I’ve forgotten (you know who you are *sigh*), know that I do show my love and affection. I’m just miserable about sticking to any schedule 'cept my own. SORRY!

How do The Amazing Bob and I observe this commercialization of romance?

We don’t do a big thing. At all. Mostly we indulge our chocolate addictions (champagne truffles!).  I know, I know, not unlike every other damn day of the year but today the goods come in heart shape boxes.

Some years he writes me a poem and I draw him some hearts. Sometimes we’ll order in our fav Chinese dishes or we’ll go out to lunch and eat french fries.

This year we’ll be in ChemoVille for TAB’s follow up Neulasta shot (Jen, that superhero, injected herself at home!), after that we’ll have lunch at a local diner, maybe stop at the bookstore and then home to settle in with Coco and Rocco before the next big blizzard begins.

Yes, we’re wildly, ostentatiously romantic. Lancelot and Guinevere had nothing on us!