February Valentine
This month I’m not featuring an author, so I thought I’d feature LOVE, instead. It’s a perfect month for it. But why?
Well, you say, it’s St. Valentine’s Day. But if you read the story behind his special day, it’s anything but romantic–a three part execution? Not very loving. However, Valentine did follow through on his belief in marriage by secretly marrying Roman soldiers against the Emperor Cluadius’ edict that soldiers should not be married. Well, that’s how poor Valentine was beaten, stoned, and beheaded. The first Valentine card was actually a farewell note to a young girl he’d befriended. He signed the note, “from your Valentine.”
February’s also the month of Lent, a time to remember the days Jesus spent in the wilderness enduring Satan’s temptations. Catholics give up things they love ( it’s supposed to be a sacrifice after all) for this period.
Februus, Roman god
It’s the shortest month of the year, but I can’t figure out how that relates to love. It seems the name of the month came from a Roman god, Februus. This god took his name from the purification festival called Februa–a time of ritual washing. I’m scratching my head over why they’d choose February for a washing of any kind; it’s also the coldest month in the northern hemisphere. Found this article and now it makes sense.
Want to test your knowledge about February? Here’s your chance. Answers next week.
1 February was the only name this month has ever been known by.
2 February along with January were late comers to the calendar. Originally, there were only ten months.
Answer to T/F Questions from last week.
1 During the mid-1300s, the Black Death destroyed about 1/3 of Europe’s population.
*TRUE. They estimate that 25 million people died between 1346 and 1353. But this pandemic popped up again in the 1600s and the city of London lost one in five of his people.
2 The plague that caused the Black Death is really a rodent disease that’s always present, and only includes humans accidentally.
*TRUE And this would shake my cowgirl boots if I had some. Yersinia pestis is alive and well in mice, camels, chipmunks, prairie dogs, rabbits, and squirrels.
TickTock Anthology
Eleven Authors of short stories in Tick Tock, A Stitch in Crime are warming up for the launch of the next #IWSG anthology. Join us on Facebook. Check out our BLOG; It’s Awesome And get excited along with us. We launch May 1!
–Linda Ellerbee
February is my birthday month, so it’s always been special to me. Strangely, when I was in school, it always felt like the month was SO long, even though it’s the shortest. I think it’s because I’ve always lived where February is typically one of the coldest winter months.
My husband and I don’t really do anything special for Valentine’s Day for each other (he’s sweet to me all the time), but when we were first dating, he wasn’t sure if February 14 was a big deal to me or not—and of course thought of it at the last minute—and he ran down to the local apothecary, which had one card left. That’s how I got a “Valentine’s clown mask for you!” card that year, lol, fitting for a five-year-old, but one I still have in a special box. I even wrote a blog post about it a couple years ago because it’s still something my hubs and I talk about with smiles.
I love that story! Very special, Lynda.
This is my birthday month as well, so happy birthday fellow Aquarian.
Hi Lee – it’s probably a good thing February is the shortest month if the Catholics have to give up love for the month … makes it slightly less arduous.
I’ve got three of the pests here: Yersinia pestis – sincerely hope they stay away!
No idea about (1), but (2) is true … but give up perhaps is easier … cheers Hilary
I think that’s why giving up meat and eating fish was the most popular idea. Giving up love just isn’t the Catholic way.
Hope your pests are flealess! Onward to the next quiz. Thanks for playing, Hilary.
Well one isn’t, but I wasn’t thinking about him: the neutered 18/19 year old ginger tom!!
Ah, yes. Poor old ginger tom. 🙂
It amazes me how Valentine’s Day is a love day- though it’s origin is not.
1. False
2. True
Whether I am right or wrong- it’s fun to play. 🙂
I’m going to answer #1 True, #2 False. (Because I know which months were added 😉 )
I’ve never celebrated Valentine’s Day. Although I once got a card…
A card counts. Is it as big a deal in your country as it is in ours? I confess I don’t know.
The card shops would like it to be big, but it’s not really as big as it is for you. I sometimes remember half way through the day and text a heart to my hubby 🙂
That’s sweet about the heart to hubby. Thanks for giving me an idea of how Valentine’s day is in GB.
No kidding, the real Valentine story is quite sad. I have nothing against the celebration of romance for others, but I’m glad my husband and I have chosen to abstain from the holiday. We do romantic and considerate things for each other all the time.
As for the shortest and coldest (absolutely) month of the year, I look forward to it because of the U.S. observance of Black History Month.
How sweet is that, Toi! Lovely that you and your husband do romantic and considerate things all the time.
Yay for Black History Month. Feb. is filled with good and things.
Poor Valentine. It doesn’t seem like he got much love. Kind of ironic.
It absolutely is ironic, Sherry. Great example. Terrible for Valentine.
What a sad ending for Valentine. I have not heard his story before. Now I know. Thanks.
You hate to spread this story during the celebration of the holiday. It kind of puts a damper on the whole “heart sharing” thing. Who’d want to be your Valentine after reading what happened? 🙂
Sorry but I don’t know the answers. It’s always great to celebrate Love, especially now when we’re in so much turmoil as a country.
I look forward to more Valentine Day posts on facebook. That will make me much happier.
It’s also Women in Horror month and Black History month. February is a busy one, especially with so much crammed into so few days.
St. Valentine’s story was so sad. I wonder how he’d feel about the way “his” day is celebrated in our culture?
Hope his spirit has a sense of humor. And you’re right. This is a busy month.
January & February must be afterthoughts. The fall months don’t match up to their names. October (8) is the 10th month? The calendar year is strange anyway since most things, like theater seasons and school years, start in September (the 9th month but sounds like it should be the 7th month).
Cheers!
Great deduction, Mary.
I thought July and August were the latecomers to the calendar. But I’ve been wrong every other time I thought I knew an answer, so…
These months do have an interesting history. July used to be Quintilis, the fifth month and the month when Julius Caesar was born. They renamed it in his honor after his death. August was originally called Sextilis (the sixth month of the Roman calendar). They change it to August to also honor Augustus Caesar. He got a lot of attention.
I think I learned more about Valentine when I was younger, but I don’t remember much…that’s an interesting story about the first valentine. 🙂
-Lauren
I’m sure there’s some myth involved. Stories that old just have to accumulated elaboration.
Hmm, never knew it was still present in them, blah blah blah lol
#1 False and #2 true
Even forgo love? Wouldn’t that end in umm divorce?
Well, there are limits.
That was interesting. 90% of it, I didn’t know!
Once a learner, always a learner! I didn’t know much of it either. Learning new stuff is what keeps me blogging.
I think #1 is false and #2 is true. I didn’t know about St Valentine’s backstory. Very interesting, especially the origins of sending a valentine.
Poor guy. He went up against the powers that be and lost!
Valentine had a rough life.
I think the first one is false and the second is true.