Easy & Free

Hmmm, let’s see … there’s the usual humdrum chocolate candy in a heart-shaped box, flowers that end up wilting, lingerie … who knows? If you’re looking for a sexy Valentines day gift that’s sure to surprise and impress your special someone, then it’s time to think beyond the traditional, whether it’s your first Valentines Day together or the 25th time you’ll be sharing the holiday with someone you love.

Ready to think outside the conventional heart-shaped box? Then read on … and, by the way, this is an original and affordable idea that you can use without having to mortgage the house! After all, a present that has no creativity or that puts you in a bind financially doesn’t qualify as a sexy Valentines day gift… just ask anyone, especially a woman about their most special memories associated with the holiday. Nine times out of ten, you won’t hear them mention candy, flowers, lingerie, or even diamonds. What you will hear are heartfelt reminiscences of gifts that created a sense of intimacy and time shared together.

We’ve all heard or read about creating a warm, romantic setting, complete with flickering candles and rose petals leading to a luxuriously waiting bubble bath … so what’s new about that? Well nothing, actually; however, here’s where the spin comes in with a sexy Valentines day gift that lets you put an entirely new twist on things!

Now, you know how sexy it is to feel your lover’s body next to yours, especially when their pubic area is smooth and silky from having been freshly shaved. But have you actually enjoyed the shaving experience with them? If you haven’t, then you’re genuinely missing out here. Remember, half the fun lies in getting ready!

Here’s a sexy Valentines day gift that will really heat things up a notch or more … for both you and your lady. Now, this doesn’t mean grabbing a can of shaving cream and a disposable razor, standing there wearing nothing but a smile. Even the perfect experience requires a little prep on your part, but just a little for a memorable occasion with a gift that can keep right on giving long after the holiday has passed.

So, put down that shaving cream and throw on something over that smile … you’re a man on a mission here, but a simple one. You’re searching for a bikini shaving kit for her. What the heck is that?

Get out of your male mindset here and think like a woman. While shaving cream and disposable razors work for you, they won’t work for her, especially when it comes to creating a mood. You know how women love their lotions and potions, don’t you? Well that’s what they’ll get. A nice quality set will include women’s shaving products that feature items for shaving, soothing and smoothing. And you already know how well soothing and smoothing works with your woman.

If you want to create an absolutely memorable experience with a sexy Valentines day gift for her, then it’s time to get busy. You can usually buy a quality bikini shaving kit for her at a reputable spa, or better yet, you can shop online. An upside to shopping online? Covering your smile is optional.

Buy some champagne, candles and chocolate and you have a fun, romantic and sexy evening planned that will be a memory that both of you will always remember!

(c) 2008, Davis Virtual Assistance. Reprints welcomed so long as article and byline are used intact and all links made live.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner And just in case you’ve forgotten, it’s always celebrated on February 14th. (Now you have no excuse for ignoring it again this year.)

But if you’re thinking, “Well, I have no excuse … except for the fact that I don’t have much money to spend on an elaborate gift or dinner out at a fancy restaurant right now.”

No worries. Here’s a list of inexpensive — and often free — ideas for spending some quality romantic time with your Valentine.

Outdoor Ideas

If the weather outside isn’t frightful this time of year where you live, Nature’s a romantic spot to spend some snuggling time together.

You could always have an exercise date if you’re both fitness nuts: a brisk walk on a tree-lined lane, a game of Frisbee in the park with your favorite view, bicycling along the waterfront, a hike to a local destination. One of my favorite things to do is rent a canoe and meander slowly around the local waterways.

For a less physically demanding outdoor idea, slow the pace down and stroll leisurely through the park rather than power-walking. Hold hands, look at the flowers, watch the birds, listen to the sounds of nature. Go somewhere you haven’t been for ages … maybe an arboretum, beach, game reserve, or Japanese
gardens.

And don’t let a bit of rainy drizzle stop your plans. A romantic stroll under a shared umbrella followed by a cup of coffee or tea in a local coffee shop is definitely a romantic alternative to the typically more expensive dinner and a movie. Plus, most parks are less crowded on rainy days, so you’ll have more privacy for
your romantic walk.

Even in the winter, it can be fun to wander through the local zoo. Many times the animals are more active this time of year rather than in the summer when they’re all hiding in the shade, escaping the summer heat.

Your local newspaper is always a great resource for inexpensive date ideas. Check out the “What’s Happening” section for information on local heritage festivals, film showings, street fairs, home tours, fireworks displays, musical events, and county fairs.

Indoor Activities

If it’s too cold or wet to spend Valentine’s Day outside, try taking a romantic drive together into the countryside, perhaps stopping for coffee and pie at a diner along the way. Mmm.

Spend the afternoon browsing through antique stores together. Talk about the things you remember seeing in your grandmother’s house when you were a child. It’s amazing the memories that can come back looking through things from long ago. You might discover things about your loved one you never knew.

Museums are often a fairly inexpensive way to spend time together. Check around for history and art museums you’ve overlooked in the past. Many of them have free days, too.

If it’s winter in your area and winter consists of sunny skies and palm trees, you might want to consider going ice skating together at the local skating rink. The change in temperature is invigorating, and it’s fun to bundle up in a scarf and gloves if it’s not something you do very often. Plus, it’s always appropriate to hold hands while skating together. Instant romance.

Stay-at-Home Ideas

Breakfast in bed is a fun wake-up on Valentine’s Day morning. Maybe cook some heart-shaped pancakes to complete the theme?

You could also have a tea party, just for the two of you with a selection of delicious gourmet teas, a variety of cakes and cookies, romantic music, and of course some fragrant flowers (they can just be ones picked from the yard … you don’t have to go overboard — and over-budget — with a dozen long stemmed roses).

Try having a picnic in the living room by the fireplace. Spread a blanket or tablecloth on the floor, light some candles, pack traditional picnic food items into your picnic basket, turn on some soft music. Maybe feed each other fresh strawberries.

If you have a series of movies you both enjoy, a movie marathon can be a fun way to spend the day. Stock up on snacks ahead of time, cuddle under a blanket on the couch, and watch a day full of Lord of the Rings, the Matrix, or a variety of romantic comedies). Turn off the ringer on your phone and just spend the day getting lost in the stories together.

Have a happy Valentine’s Day!

St. Patrick’s Day is March 17th, and it is a “day for wearing green” and other Irish traditions. Even though the patron saint St. Patrick was not born in Ireland, everything that is Green (which symbolizes spring and the prospering of the crops), fun and Irish can be worn or used to celebrate this holiday. And it is a holiday for all ages. Here are some entertaining ideas to use on St. Patrick’s Day.

A few drops of green food coloring goes into anything you might want green, even a mug of draft beer. Anything made with Irish cream or Irish whiskey has the Irish spirit, too.

Authentic Corned beef and cabbage

Corned beef brisket, about 4 lbs.

1 juice orange

18-20 whole cloves

1 tsp. whole yellow mustard seeds

1/2 tsp. caraway seeds

1/2 tsp. whole black peppercorns

1/2 tsp. whole coriander

Put corned beef brisket into large pot for cooking. Take cloves and insert them, then sprinkle remaining spices on. Cover brisket with water, bring to boil, then simmer for 3 hours or until tender.

3 lbs. small potatoes, peeled

2 1/2 lbs. carrots, peeled and cut into large pieces

1 medium head cabbage

About 40 minutes before beef is finished, boil a large pot of water and cook potatoes and carrots. Add cabbage about 10 minutes before you’re ready to serve as it doesn’t need to cook long. Drain vegetables.

Arrange meat and vegetables on a platter and serve with your favorite mustards.

St. Patrick Day Cookie Pops (for the kids to make)

Box of Vanilla Wafers

Box of Popsicle sticks

Vanilla or chocolate frosting; or Peanut butter

Various decorations – chocolate chips, icing packs, assorted green candies, green sugar sprinkles, ju ju bees, sprinkles, etc.

Spread out ½ of the vanilla wafers, with the flat sides up on the plate. Take the vanilla, chocolate icing, or peanut butter and spread across flat surface. Next, take a Popsicle stick and lay it down with the end in the middle of the cookie. Top with another vanilla wafer to make a sandwich.

Now the kids can get creative! Turn the cookie pop into a green shamrock; apply vanilla icing and draw with green icing pack; make a pot of gold with candies; anything you want! They make a great treat for the kids to take to school!

Easy Hot Whiskey Punch (for the adults) Serves 1

1 measure of whiskey

2 teaspoons white sugar

4-6 cloves

2 slices fresh lemon

7 oz. boiling water

Put whiskey, sugar cloves and lemon slices into a strong glass. 2. Pour on the boiling water until the sugar has dissolved. 3. Sip contentedly by a blazing fire.

Irish Scones

1/2 cup butter

4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup milk

Note: You can add raisins, dates or other dried fruits, if desired.

Makes about 18 scones.

Preheat oven to 425°F.

In a large bowl, combine butter and flour until crumbly. Add baking powder, salt and sugar. In a separate bowl, beat egg and milk. Mix into dry ingredients to make a dough. Turn onto floured surface and roll to one-inch thickness. With a cookie cutter or the bottom of a drinking glass, cut dough into 2-inch rounds. Place on greased cookie sheet, about one inch apart and bake for 15 minutes.

When serving your Irish creations don’t forget an Irish toast to bless the meal!

Italy – The Feast Day of Saint Joseph

Italians love celebrating. Two days after the feast of Saint Patrick, on March 19th, Italians all over the world celebrate Saint Joseph’s Day. Saint Joseph is the father of Jesus and the husband of Mary. He is the Patron Saint of carpenters, house buyers and sellers, fathers, confectioners, wheelwrights, and working people. Numerous countries regard him as their patron saint too, including Austria, Canada, Mexico, Sicily, Turin, and Florence Italy.

According to legend, during the Middle Ages severe drought and famine plagued Sicily. Sicilians prayed passionately to Saint Joseph for rain. They promised that if he sent rain, they would prepare a large feast in his honour. While they waited, Sicilians survived on fava beans which saved them from starvation. Saint Joseph heard their prayers and sent rain. The Sicilians never forgot their promise to him for answering their desperate prayers. In gratitude, to this very day, they hold dear their promise and pay homage to him.

Every March 19th, Italians open their hearts and pantries. First, three-tiered altars are erected to honour the Holy Trinity. A statue of Saint Joseph, surrounded by flowers and candles, decorates the top tier. On the next two tiers are foods like pasta, olive oil, fava beans, and baked goods.
During the banquet, food is generously offered to the needy. In the town squares of many towns and villages, large banquet tables are erected. All the townsfolk contribute food, flowers, limes, candles, wine, and fava beans. No meats are placed on the altar because the feast day falls during the season of Lent. Foods made with bread crumbs are common because it is symbolic of a carpenter’s sawdust. A special vegetarian minestrone soup including fava beans and bread carefully baked in the shape of a sceptre to represent his walking stick or a wreath representing the Crown of Thorns are lovingly prepared and offered. At the end of the meal, every guest takes nhome some of the food.

To begin the festival, the local priest blesses the altar and its foods. Children portraying the Holy Family must sample all the food on the altar. As each item is tasted, there is a drum roll and everyone shouts “Viva San Giuseppe” to cast away all of the evil spirits. When the tasting is complete, the blessed loaf of bread is cut into pieces and shared with all. Legend decrees that whoever eats a piece of the bread will receive good fortune throughout the next year.

Saint Joseph’s Day is a day for eating and celebrating with friends and family. There are many recipes passed down through the generations for this very special occasion. One of the most common is for “zeppole”, a fried donut-like treat. So on March 19th, I hope you take the time to make and enjoy zeppole. I wish all my Italian family, friends, and readers Buon Giorno di San Giuseppe – Happy St. Joseph’s Day. “Viva San Giuseppe!”

Zeppole

For the dough:

2 cups sifted flour

2 cups water

10 ounces granulated sugar

½ teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 large eggs

¼ cup white wine

A pot of oil for frying

For the dredging:

3 teaspoons powdered cinnamon mixed with 1 cup sugar

Combine water, sugar, and 3 tablespoons of oil in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Mix flour into boiling water mixture all at once. Remove from Remove from heat and begin whisking or stirring with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a mass. Return to low heat ad cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and add eggs 1 at a time. Beat vigorously after each addition or the egg will cook. Add wine and beat the dough until satiny. Grease a countertop or board with oil. Turn out the dough and pat down flat. Fold sides over on itself so there are 3 layers. Repeat this five more times. Heat oil in a large pot or fryer. Take about 1/3 of dough and roll out in a log, to the thickness of your thumb. Pinch off a teaspoon size piece. Place 3 or 4 at a time into boiling oil. Turn and fry until golden on both sides. Drain on brown paper. Place into a paper bag and sprinkle powdered sugar over them. Close the bag and shake to cover with sugar.

If you want the best exercises to improve vertical leap, then pay attention – the best kind of training to jump higher is NOT TO just work on your leg strength. What you need to realize is – for maximum performance, you need to improve your TOTAL BODY STRENGTH to improve your vertical leap.

Although it is an advantage to have strong legs .. it’s not the key factor that will have you jumping higher and dunking ‘left, right, and center’.

Like I said .. TOTAL BODY STRENGTH is the a major factor to getting you to jump higher. And the best exercises to improve your vertical leap is one that works on your large muscle group – which them strengthens your core muscles. A strong core will translate to a stronger body, and an increase in your vertical leap.

If you don’t believe, just look at the Basketballers, VolleyBall players … and Aussie Rules Footballers. Not only are these athletes strong, they are fit, powerful and have high vertical leaps. There’s not the slightest hint of larger leg muscle groups over the upper body!

You see … it’s their overall conditioning that allows them to perform to their MAX – give them the edge to jump higher. And so, what are the best kind of exercises to improve vertical leap?

The best training to jump higher are the HIGH INTENSITY cardio training and TOTAL BODY resistance training. It gives you a complete workout to strengthen your core muscles, and improving your fitness level. When you are in shape, you are at your optimal fitness to perform effectively and jump higher.

And throw in ‘Plyometrics’ – you’ll have the best mix of exercises to improve vertical leap in no time.

Most people are familiar with the game of bingo. It is play using bingo cards contain a five by five grid of squares, with each square containing a word or number. Each player is given their own bingo card, and marks off the squares from their card when the corresponding item is announced by the bingo caller. In most games, the winner is the first player to achieve a continuous line of five squares, in any direction (regardless of whether the line is horizontal, vertical or diagonal), and call out “Bingo”. For a longer game, players can aim for larger or more complex target shapes than a single line, for example, two intersecting lines of five squares, a postage stamp of three by three sequares, or even all squares marked off.

In the standard or traditional game of bingo, each of the squares on a bingo card is printed with a different number between 1 and 75. Today however, variants of the game, but using cards printed with words or phrases instead of numbers, are becoming increasingly popular. Using a computer and bingo card maker software, it is dead easy produce custom bingo cards of this type. In fact, the ease of producing custom bingo cards has been one of the main contributing factors to a renaissance in the game’s popularity: teachers are increasingly using custom bingo cards in their classrooms, and themed versions of bingo are also growing in popularity for religious and secular holidays and events.

St. Patrick’s Day is the Irish national holiday, named in honor of one of the patron saint’s of Ireland. It usually falls on March 17th, although the date is moved in those years when March 17th falls within Holy week. The day is used as a celebration for all things Irish, and is of course an excellent opportunity for playing an Irish-themed version of bingo. All you need to do is prepare some bingo cards containing words or phrases relating to Irish history, culture or geography, and you’re ready to play.

Independence Day, better known today as the 4th of July holiday, as all Americans know, is a grand and great celebration in the United States. It is often a favorite holiday of kids who especially love the fireworks activities with the loud noises and colorful displays. The fireworks, however, are but a symbol of the meaning behind the 4th of July holiday as we observe this celebration of independence. The meaning behind our celebration of independence on the 4th of July came about as the result of the valiant efforts and strong commitment and determination of our American forefathers not so very long ago.

Incredible changes have taken place since July 4, 1776, however, very important events preceded the birth of this Independence Day for the United States. Brave and restless people had uprooted their lives, left everything behind, and bravely crossed the Atlantic Ocean to come to this land where they sought to establish freedoms and rights not available to them in their homeland. They formed settlements here and organized into various groups of towns and colonies with their own local laws and rules, while still under the authority of the King of England. The United States of America was being born and the ideals of just how and what those freedoms would entail were ironed out through controversy and cooperative efforts of the differing opinions and current events of the day. This was a time of turmoil in which our forefathers and foremothers learned to work together to settle their differences that ultimately allowed the authoring and drafting of the “Declaration of Independence” and the “Constitution of the United States.”

The vote for the United States to become independent of Great Britain actually occurred on July 2, 1776 by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Congress formally approved the document, the “Declaration of Independence” on July 4, 1776. This declaration was the final break with Great Britain and expressed the united view of all of the colonies to become independent. This historic act was a culmination of dramatic events in which the early Americans faced a great deal of unrest that was accompanied by heartfelt and explosive rebellious incidents in their efforts to be free from tyranny. They were not to be deterred as they sought to identify, solidify, and maintain the profound and precious freedoms and justices they had so yearned for that they were willing to commit their entire lives to the values that they embraced.

This was, however, just a beginning point of establishing freedom in this great land, as at that time in our history, the Revolutionary War to complete the severing of our dependence from Great Britain was yet to take place, plus the horrific practice of slavery was not yet abolished, women were not privileged to enjoy most of these independent rights, and, sadly, Native Americans were being displaced and uprooted as they lost their native homelands to the onward movement of the American settlers. Since the momentous Declaration of Independence was signed and approved, our struggles to truly bring equality and equal rights to everyone has triumphed with many victories. American citizens today continue to press forward exercising their free speech rights to make changes, and once again, we are about to observe the celebration of independence on the 4th of July holiday.

Even though July 4, 1776 seems like such a long time ago, if you put it into the perspective of using a conservative lifetime of only 60 years, those 232 years since 1776 are less than 4 lifespans away from our present 2008. As we approach another 4th of July celebration of independence, it comes to mind that our American peoples from all heritages and ethnic backgrounds can truly celebrate the enormous progress that has been made over the span of these short 4 lifespans of time. It is unfortunate that we still struggle with injustices, prejudices and inequities in our culture. However, our history, values, and ideals are far too precious to become lost through these fears and struggles we are experiencing today.

Our American forefathers successfully worked through strife, fears, and the bullies of their time to prevail in establishing this great country. We, as recipients and inheritors of their magnificent efforts, must hold our heads up high as we express our thanks and jubilation in the celebration of independence of the United States. We live in a great country, and we should be encouraged to work together, hand in hand, to resolve our problems and differences in order to maintain the integrity and values that the great and famous document, the Declaration of Independence was founded upon.

A significant point of evidence to remind us that all these differences can be overcome is the cooperative and friendly relationship and camaraderie that the United States and Great Britain have been enjoying ever since we can remember. Those differences were so important to early Americans and Great Britain in the 1776 time period that many risked and lost their lives over the disputed matters at that time in history. Today it seems a very strange and unlikely idea that the United States and Great Britain would be embroiled in such a major controversy, and yet it really happened. There is an important lesson here that we, too, can resolve all of our differences, and as we enjoy the celebration of independence on the 4th of July holiday with the magnificent fireworks, tasty barbecues, traditional hot dogs and hamburgers, fun parades and other symbolic events that mark the freedom and birth of our great country, we share a common goal and belief that all people are created truly equal and that this country is founded on the belief of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.

Christmas cookies are as much a part of the Christmas tradition for many as a visit from Old St. Nick himself. The cookies are often prepared in hopes of his pending arrival by children that are as excited as they can possibly be with all sorts of visions of great things to come dancing around in their bright and shining little eyes. Preparing the cookies in these instances can be a great time of bonding with your little ones but can also be a trying time if you don’t follow a few of the tips and hints listed below.

If you want to make cooking Christmas cookies and/or candy with your little ones the very best experience for you all that it can possibly be make sure you do it on a day when this is the only thing on your calendar. You do not want to rush through this time that is not only important for bonding with your child as a parent but also a time that is an important opportunity to lock in a few precious memories of great times you’ll spend together. This is one thing that you want your children to look back at Christmas and remember doing with you and you want to be able to look back on Christmas and remember doing this with your children.

You should also make sure that everyone is well rested and well fed before beginning the process. This is important now more than ever before, as we know more about the dangers of foods, such as raw eggs, that are included in cookie dough as well as the dough for many of our favorite Christmas confections and candies. You do not want to risk the health of your children through temptation over raw cookie dough.

Be sure that every child gets a turn with the fun stuff. This includes of course using the mixer and watching things spin around as well as choosing their personal favorites for the next batch of cookies. You should also make a few cookies that you plan to let them paint, decorate, and play with just for fun and their own personal enjoyment. This will guarantee a few smiles while also scoring a few brownie points for mom.

Be patient and expect spills and messes. If you can afford a cleaning service once a year, the day after your cookie extravaganza is the day you want to splurge. Seriously, don’t sweat the small stuff. We make little messes every day it shouldn’t be such a shock when they make a really big mess in one day. This is one of the reasons why you want to plan your cookie making on a day when the calendar is clear-you will need time for clean up when all is said and done.

Make sure you have all the necessary ingredients for each and every single recipe before you begin. This is very important as cookie dough doesn’t wait well for that final egg and children don’t understand very well when they are interrupted from one project to run a quick errand (also, when was the last time you made it in and out of the grocery store in under an hour?). If you can make it through all the steps above you should be in for smooth sailing and Christmas cookie cooking.

when dose march madness start is it after St. Patricks day ?

Medieval Madness has to be one of the few pinball games ever created that has a universal draw. It doesn’t matter if you’re pro or novice, young or old, man or woman, you WILL have fun playing this game.

It has incredible effects, especially with the exploding castle. It has some of the most hilarious audio on a pinball game ever. It’s a straight forward in, but with its satisfying gameplay it all ads up an incredible pinball game.

I always catch myself repeating most of the funny lines while I’m playing the game. It sticks with you long after the game is over. You’ll find yourself muttering the lines in the shower. Medieval Madness also has really beautiful artwork. The design of the drawbridge and castle are nothing short of inspiring was great. Defeating each of the castle lords is a very rewarding feeling.

If there is one slam on the game its that, mechanically, it’s a delicate machine and I’ve played over ten different games and each one of them has had at least one hiccup, such as when you hit the trolls sometimes you don’t score any points as well as the castle gate not operating correctly.

Beginner pinball players will find it easy to get into and forgiving enough to keep on playing it. The expert players will find it thoroughly enjoyable. I have met people who couldn’t stand pinball games but they just seem to really dig this game. If you’re a pro, you’re probably not going to find it too challenging but that’s you’ll have so much fun with it, you won’t even care.

Pumpkins protect your home. To ward off demons, people in Ireland carved faces into turnips and potatoes, and set them in their windows. But when they came to the New World, they discovered pumpkins were more plentiful and easier to carve, so they switched.

Lighting a candle says “welcome”. Setting out a glowing jack-o-lantern encourages protective visitors to drop by. How’d it start? Candles are a modern day version of the bonfires the early Celts built to invite wandering good spirits to stop by and warm themselves before winter set in.

Owls bring wisdom. The Druids believed Halloween night was ruled over by a goddess who disguised herself as an owl. The reason was because owls only come out at night, they were thought to be wise and have special knowledge of the spirit world.

Putting out candy brings blessings. Trick or treating on Halloween got its start in thre 9th century when poor European villagers went door to door on that night asking for currant studded soul cakes. Each donor who gave would then be blessed for the remainder of the year.

Wearing a costume scares off trouble. The idea of dressing up goes back to the Druids, who disguised themselves in elaborate costumes and masks to dance around the Halloween fire and scare away spirits. Later, the Scottish and Irish adapted the tradition by dressing up as ghouls.

Bobbing for apples boosts your love life. The Druids believed apples represented fertility, and that the first person to successfully bob for one would be the first to marry. After catching an apple between your teeth, you were supposed to sleep with it under your pillow – to ensure dreams of your future mate.

Full moons bring a good harvest. In autumn, a full moon looks bigger and more orange, which is why it’s the color of Halloween. The Celts called these “harvest moons” because they appeared only during the fall harvest.

A black cat improves your luck. Popular superstitions to the contrary, most cultures have revered black cats as lucky. And in Scandinavia, they carry the added aura of romance. It’s said they pulled the chariot of Freya, the Norse goddess of passion.

Every florist will tell you that their briskest trade is on and around 14th of February. If you look at Google Insights, a tool that maps search trends for certain terms, those terms related to the flower trade are 200% more common come February. So, what has the martyrdom of a 3rd century Roman priest to do with romantic love and why do we celebrate his death with the gift of flowers and chocolates? The answer is a combination of chance events.

The most commonly believed story is that of a Roman priest called Valentine who secretly married soldiers to their sweet-hearts against the will of the emperor. He was subsequently put to death, but not before he wrote a note to his own sweet-heart signed “Your Valentine.” This story, while romantic, is undoubtedly apocryphal, but there may be a kernel of truth.

The Catholic Church recognises numerous martyrs called Valentine. Under 14th of February a saint named Valentine is listed as martyred in Africa. By coincidence the Ancient Romans celebrated a fertility festival known as Lupercalia between 13 and 15 February. It is quite likely that in an effort to Christianise Lupercalia the Church set a commemorative feast on that date – the feast of St.Valentine.

However, while fertility and Valentine were now linked there appears to be no reference to romantic love or sentiment until the 14th Century when Geoffrey Chaucer, in a Parlement of Foules,

“For this was on seynt Volantynys day Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.”

What is certain, given the time of year that birds in the Nothern Hemisphere mate, is that Chaucer wasn’t referring to our Valentine, however, it seems to have stuck. Valentine’s Day is mentioned by Charles d’Orléans in a letter sent from the Tower of London in 1415 and by Shakespeare in Hamlet in 1600.

By the late 18th Century the practice of sending a Valentine among the more leisurely classes was well established and by the mid-19th Century the first mass produced paper Valentines were being made. The modern popularity of Valentine’s Day has seen estimates of 1 billion Valentines sent each year world-wide and, since the mid-20th Century the gift of flowers, chocolates and cards between lovers.