The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-02-08
st. Valentines Day.

st: Valentine was priest of Rome, mar.
ttyred in the third century but he seems to
have HAD no connection with the notions and
practices to which his day has since been
given up. This, it is scarcely necessary to
say, is day thought to be especially devoted
to the business of Cupid and Hymen. Pos
sibly, its being about the season when the
birds choose their mates is the cause.-
Antiquarics have also pointed out that the
l.upercalia, fcasts of ancient Rome In honor
OF Pan and Juno, were held at this time,
and that amongst the ceremonies was game
IN which young persons Of the opposite sexes
chose each other jocularly by lot.
st. Valentines Day is now almost every
where degeneratcd festival, the only
observance of any note consisting in the
sending anonymous letters, by way of prac-
teal joke, and this confined very much to
the humber classes The approach Of the
day is heralded by the appearance in the
printselers' shop windows of vast Numbers
OF missives calculated for use on this occa.
sion, each generally consisting of single
sheet of paper on the first page of which is
seen some ridiculous colored carcature Of
the male or female figure, with few bur
!esque verse below. More rarely, the print
is OF sentimental kind, such as view of
Hymen altar, with pair undergoing an
initiation into welded happiness before it,
while Cupid flutters above, and hearts trans.
fixed with his darts decorate the corners.-
These are paltry frivolities compared with
the observances of st. Valentines Day at no
remote period. Ridiculous letters were
then unknown; and if letters of any kind
were sent, they contained only courteous
profession of attachment from some young
man to some young maiden, honed with a
few compliments to her various Projections,
and expressive of a hope that his love might
meet with return. But the true proper cere
mony OF st. Valentines Day was the draw
ing of kind of lottery, followed by cere
monies not much unlike what is generally
called the game of forfeits. Mission. !.
learned traveller of the early part Of the last
century, gives apparently correct account
OF the principal ceremonial of the day. son
the eve of st. Valentines Day." he says,
- the young folks in England and Scotland,
by very ancient custom, celebrate the little
festival. An equal number of maids and
bachelors get together; each writes his or
her true or some feigned name on separate
bllets, which they roll up, and draw by way
of lots, the maids taking the mems billet;,
and the men the maids SO that each of the
young men lights upon girl that he calls
his valentine, and each of the girls upon q
young man whom she calls hers. BY this
means each has two valentines but the man
sticks faster to the valentine that is fallen to
him than to the valentine to whom he is
fallen. Fortune having thus divided the
company into SO many couples the valcn-
tines give balls and treats to their mistresses,
wear their blllets several days upon their
bosoms or sleeves, and this little sport often
ends in love-"
In the various jesting ceremonies of the
day, there always seems to have been dis.
position to believe that the person drawn
as valentine had some considerable like
lihood Of becoming the associate of tho
party in wedlock. At least, we may suppose
that this idea would be gladly and easily
arrived at, where the party so drawn was at
all eligible from other considerations. The
common people seem to have imagined that
an influence was inherent in the day, which
rendered in some degree binding the lot or
chance by which any youth or maid was now
led to fix attention on person of the oppo-
site sex. 1t was supposed, for instance,
that the first unmarried person of the other
sex whom one met on st. Valentines morn.
ing in walking abroad, was destined wife
or husband.
Chambers Information for the People.