The colors of Valentine's Day are pink, red, and white. Pink is a delicate, almost innocent shade of red. Pink also was connected with St. Valentine, whose burial caused the pink almond tree to blossom. Red is a symbol of warmth and feeling, the color of the heart. White stands for purity and faith: a faith between two that love each other.

A lady's hands was a favorite decoration that depicted "femininity." Its beauty was enhanced by adding a frilly cuff and a jeweled ring on the third finger. Clasped hands represent those of Queen Victoria and prince Albert and were symbols of the friendship between their countries of Germany and England.

Many people give candy to their sweethearts on Valentine's Day. Candy is sweet and so are sweethearts. In North America and Europe, chocolates are sold in fancy boxes shaped like hearts. Some boxes have flowers and ribbons on them.

If you are awakened by a kiss on Valentine's day you will have good luck. It was also believed that you would see your lover's face in a dream on Valentine's Eve if you slept with a sprig of rosemary pinned inside your pillow. Another British folk belief was that to insure a dream of your husband to be was to place bay leaves sprinkled with rose water on your pillows on St. Valentine's Day Eve and recite this little prayer:

Good valentine, be kind to me;
In dreams, let me my true love see

Some girls wrote the names of boys on slips of paper, wrapped them in clay, an dropped them into water. As the clay fell apart, the paper rose to the surface. The first name to reach the surface would be that of her future husband.

During the Civil War valentines for the soldiers and their sweethearts often depicted lovers parting or a tent with flaps that opened to reveal a soldier. These were called "windows." In times of peace the "window" would be a church door, opening on a bride and groom. Another Civil War valentine novelty was for the card to have a place for the sender to place a lock of hair.

The red heart is an old symbol for love. Centuries ago, people did not know that the heart pumps blood through the circulatory system. However, they did know that the heart beats faster when a person is excited or upset. For this reason they believed that the heart was the center of our feelings. This idea remains today in certain sayings, such as, "It does my heart good,” or "I'm broken-hearted," or “sick at heart.”

The rose, which is undoubtedly the most popular flower in the world, speaks of love and has been the choice of lovers in every century. If you rearrange the letters of the word rose you get Eros, the god of Love.

It was said that to dream of a dove was a promise of happiness. Wishes made when the first dove appeared in springtime would come true, or so it was said.

In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favorite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, "You unlock my heart!"

In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.

Tubes used for background set from MOODSWING'S PSP TUBES, animated hearts from Animation Factory, 2 pink floral hearts from Bry-Back Manor , Midi from Sue's Graphics & Midi's.

01/15/2000

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