Valentine’s day gift board, a book for lovers, and my GF oatmeal breakfast cookies. ❤️
Lifestyle 101
It’s almost that time to celebrate love. Whether that’s your kids, your partner, or even you celebrating yourself, it’s time for all the warm fuzzies! The history behind Valentine’s Day is clouded in mystery and legend. Valentine’s Day is rooted in Pagan festivals, Christian saints, Chaucer's love birds, and the Greeting Card Association of America. Regardless of history, we love to gift loved ones and that special someone with tokens of love and affection. As a child my mama gifted sweets and trinkets and often they were part of a scavenger hunt. I have fond memories of this holiday and have passed them down to my girls. I send my trinkets by mail now but nonetheless, everyone loves a small token to remind them that they are loved. Here are a few ideas to get your creative ideas flowing. Who is your Valentine?
Just in case you were curious about the history of this holiday, here is what I found. ⬇️
Valentines Galore
“There are some suggestions that the holiday's roots are in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a fertility celebration commemorated annually on February 15. Pope Gelasius I recast this pagan festival as a Christian feast day circa 496, declaring February 14 to be St. Valentine's Day. Which St. Valentine the early pope intended to honor remains a mystery: according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, there were at least three early Christian saints by that name. One was a priest in Rome, another a bishop in Terni, and of a third St. Valentine almost nothing is known except that he met his end in Africa. Rather astonishingly, all three Valentines were said to have been martyred on Feb. 14. Most scholars believe that the St. Valentine of the holiday was a priest who attracted the disfavor of Roman emperor Claudius II around 270. At this stage, the factual ends, and the mythic begins. According to one legend, Claudius II had prohibited marriage for young men, claiming that bachelors made better soldiers (although there is no record of the alleged ban). Valentine continued to secretly perform marriage ceremonies but was eventually apprehended by the Romans and put to death. Another legend has it that Valentine, imprisoned by Claudius, fell in love with the daughter of his jailer. Before he was executed, he allegedly sent her a letter signed "from your Valentine." Probably the most plausible story surrounding St. Valentine is one not focused on Eros (passionate love) but on agape (love of God): he was martyred for refusing to renounce his religion.
In 1969, the Catholic Church revised its liturgical calendar, removing the feast days of saints whose historical origins were questionable. St. Valentine was one of the casualties.”
Chaucer's Love Birds
“It was not until the 14th century that this Christian feast day became definitively associated with love. According to UCLA medieval scholar Henry Ansgar Kelly, author of Chaucer and the Cult of Saint Valentine, it was Chacer who first linked St. Valentine's Day with romance.
In 1381, Chaucer composed a poem in honor of the engagement between England's Richard II and Anne of Bohemia. As was the poetic tradition, Chaucer associated the occasion with a feast day. In "The Parliament of Fowls," the royal engagement, the mating season of birds, and St. Valentine's Day are linked.”
❤️❤️❤️
Goods 101
Sextrology
I was given this book years ago as a gift and it continues to be a great conversation starter. Guests love to pick it up and delve into their own sign and that of those around them. It’s snarky and provocative and worth a look.
“In sophisticated, uninhibited language, Sextrology candidly explores each sign of the zodiac, male and female, through a unique, wholly original astro-sexual philosophy. In this highly entertaining and illuminating romp from inside the head to inside the jeans, the authors uncover the naked truth behind each of the 24 gender signs. With nary a trace of new age mumbo jumbo, they explore each sign’s personal psychology, physical attributes, and sexual behavior in titillating detail—straight, gay, and beyond.
From fantasies to favorite positions, erogenous zones to emotional needs, Sextrology will help you better understand your and others’ sexual character, improve your understanding of relationships, and find out what to expect from a new person in your life. No stone is left unturned in this intelligent and enlightening investigation of sex and the sexes.”
It’s a fun read, and it’s red and could make you blush, so here it is in this Valentine’s Day blog. You are welcome.
Food 101
My Yummy Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
GF oats, fresh fruit and protein powder make these flavorful cookies a delicious start to your day!
Have a superfantastic weekend, my valentines! xo
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