Valentines Day in Naples

Posted by Joseph Epifanio on Friday, February 14th, 2014 at 1:34pm.

First and foremost I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Valentines Day.

Valentines day in Naples

I love this day, it's a family orientated fun day, already today I have had numerous strangers wishing me a Happy Valentine’s Day.  It is extraordinary how many people celebrate this day, I personally did not know where it came from, so I went straight to my friend Wikipedia, who always has an answer for everything.  

There are many legends associated with Valentine's day.  One says the Roman Emperor Claudius, executed two men called Valentine.  Another says that Claudius imprisoned Valentine, who from his jail cell fell in love with the daughter of his jailer, he was executed, but not before he sent a love note to the girl signed “from your Valentine".  Another says that Saint Valentine of Rome was sent to jail because he performed weddings for soldiers, who were not allowed to marry at that time.

The many martyrdom tales that surround the day abound, apparently, the day originally was known as the Feast of Saint Valentine, it was a traditional celebration of one of the early Christian saints. It was not until during the 14th century in England that the day became known for its love connection when the poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a poem for the marriage of King Richard II of England and Anne of Bohemia. 

Then during the 18th century, commercialism raised its head, greeting cards, flowers, sweets and such were sent as presents to lovers to express their feelings for one another.  The cards that were sent were originally called Valentines.  Since then the day has become more and more commercial, with cupids, doves, flowers, and poems aimed at everyone in the family, there are cards not just for lovers, but for mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers.  In England where the card tradition originally began, cards were sent not only to lovers but to people you did not like, these cards were unsigned, it was a way to tease and taunt or maybe a way to express a love that you didn’t think would be returned.   School children in the UK to this day send cards to each other, some signed some not. 

Myself, I received one from my wife, a joint one from my children, another from my sister and yet another from my herd of dogs (who I am quite sure cannot write).   So Valentines Day has gone from its rocky beginnings to a way to express love and caring for each other, I think this shows that the world is slowly turning in the right direction, don't you?

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