Bea Coker
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Do you know where and when the trend of Valentine's Days started? Why do we use Cupid to depict love and what's with the cards and candy? Well, legend has it, or so it is told in a recent “Country Living” magazine article authored by Taysha Murtaugh and Terri Robertson, that the Catholic Church may have established St. Valentine's Day to honor two Valentines, who happened to both have been coined “proponents of love” after they were each executed on Feb. 14, in different years by Roman Emperor Claudius II in the third century.
The early association was, in fact, to their deaths and the memories of their reputation. Beginning around the 1500s, formal messages of love, or valentines, appeared and by the late 1700s, commercially printed cards were being used coupled with joining the Greek mythological character of Cupid. Greek mythology hurled Cupid quickly into the reputation of being a cute little cherub, tagging alongside his mother and obliging her wishes of encouraging love. It was the perfect introduction for the Roman depiction of Cupid into the commercialized persona of the "Roman God of Love." Dash that with a little bit of hearts and the expressions of love, and the tradition of Valentine's Day was propelled everywhere during the 18th century.
By the 19th century, the commercialization of Valentine's Day was perfect for the new ripe country of America to see the opportunity to blend heart shaped wooden boxes filled with chocolates, love letters and Richard Cadbury's ideas together. This led to the rise of the New England Confectionery Company and of “Mother of the American Valentine” Esther Howland. Esther would propel English-styled valentines in America using an innovative assembly line process until, finally, in January 1910, Joyce C. Hall of Kansas City, Mo., became the founder of the company many grow to rely on for the perfect words to express emotions for every occasion: Hallmark Cards, Inc. Hallmark would become so significant the award of National Medal of Arts in 1985 would be added to its legacy.
Today, those expressions have joined with creativity and technology to include electronic greeting cards, personalized telegrams and flower deliveries to anywhere in the world. Not to mention how orders for small local businesses such as the Frame Shop in Live Oak, SunSation in Jasper or the Flower Shop in Mayo can be fulfilled in just a few hours. There are even special dinners from local favorites, such as The 406 Duval, in Live Oak and Concert by Candlelight featuring Ronnie Collins in Jennings. Couples daring to travel a bit can experience a retreat at Madison's Manor House, featuring a weekend filled with joy, laughter and romance in Madison county.
Don't fret if your budget is tight, but you still want to be thoughtful. There are many other things to do, such as preparing a homemade dinner, picnic, movie night, handmade gifts, or even a night of star gazing. Whatever you decide, remember your expression of unique love is yours and conveys what you want to say to someone special – be creative and design your message for that special someone!