Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published Feb. 12, 2003

A look back at Valentine's Day

Roses are red,
And violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet,
And so are you.
Many times I've heard -- and yes, recited -- that little ditty, but I just learned that it was the American version of an old Valentine inscription. St. Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, evolved over a very long time. Before it was known by that name way back in 4th-century Rome, it was a popular pagan festival with the emphasis on fertility rites. Some historians think the birds and beasts began searching for mates in mid-February, and humans followed their example.

By the 5th century, the Catholic church sought to stop this pagan festival which had been practiced for more than 800 years. They searched for a saint to represent lovers and found Valentine, a bishop who had died a martyr 200 years earlier. When the emperor Claudius II issued an edict forbidding marriage, Valentine secretly married young couples.

Before he was put to death, he was imprisoned for quite a long time, and he befriended a young blind woman and miraculously restored her sight. It was said he left her a farewell note signed, "From your Valentine."

With the pagan festival squelched, young Roman men are credited with sending handwritten love notes to ladies they admired on St. Valentine's Day. Over a long period, that custom spread. The British Museum has the first Valentine from 1415 which was sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

That card pictures a man and woman, and hovering over her head is Cupid shooting a dart at the man's heart. Once again, the Roman influence is apparent, because Cupid was the son of Venus, goddess of love and beauty in Roman mythology.

The card business grew steadily and, over the years, printed cards replaced the handwritten creations. By the 19th century, Feb. 14 and its message of love was invaded by cards filled with obscenities and sent anonymously. The practice became such a problem that in Chicago some 25,000 such cards were refused as being unfit to go through the U.S. Postal system.

It is not surprising that in our land of plenty, gifts became more lavish, and candy, flowers and jewelry were added to Valentine cards. Love is still the true theme of the day. In the Song of Solomon, the permanence of love is described in these words, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it."

Our daughter shared the story of a little boy that spoke the truth of those words. She is in social service work with troubled families. Several weeks ago, she was on call when a very bad situation was dumped on her shoulders. The parents had their natural children, as well as foster children, in their care. One of the foster children, a 10-year-old girl, had been sexually assaulted by the foster father. He admitted it was true and was jailed, but the rest of the family was left to pick up the pieces. Hardest hit was the 5-year-old boy who adored the foster father.

This little guy had never known a father before coming to this home. He was inconsolable knowing his father was in jail. Several nights later, the little fellow wakened his foster mother in the middle of the night to tell her that even though his father was in jail, "I will always have him close in my heart."

A purer Valentine thought would be hard to find.

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Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday.