Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-02-10
st Valentines Day.

For the benefit Of those who still de-
light to observe the usage Of S.. Falen-
tines day Which is the 18th of this pres
ent month, We clip the following article :
The l4ih of February is day that has
long been kept sacred to st. Valentine, al
though in mora modern times. its observance
has been prostituted TO the disreputable prac-
tice Of sending anonymous letters.
IL these unromantic times, when the sum
nam 5onuns Of existence seems to be the pos
session OF wealth, ii is refreshing to the mind
10 recall the customs and legends of other
days; and among the most interesting Of
chem is the history of this festival, one Of
Cupid gala-days.
St. Valentine was priest of Rome, who
suffered martyrdom in the third century, and
he 18th of February was dedicated to him,
as the oath Of June is to St. John the Baptist,
or the 9th of December to St. John the
Evangelist The custom ofdeyoting the day
to the service of Rymen arose from the facs
that it happened at the season when birds be-
gan to mate. Mission, learned traveller who
lived in the early part Of the last century,
gives the following account Of The ceremonies
by which the day was observed:
son the eve Of St. Valentines Day, the
young folks in England and Scotland BIZ a
very ancient custom, celebrated a little festigs
An equal number of maids and bachelors &c .
~, Ia u,r;t &c I,;y or nor truo or 80; nm ri
asme upon separate billets which they roll up,
and draw away by lots, the maids taking the
mems billets, aud the men the maids 30 that
each Of the men lights upon girl that he
calls his valentine, and each Of the girls upon
young man whom she calls hers. BY this
meeus each has two valentines, but the man
sticks faster to the valentine that is fallen tC
hlm, than to the valentine to-whom he is fal-
len. Fortune having thus divided the com
pany into so many couples, the valentines give
balls and treats to their mistreses, wear thei,
billes several days upon their bosoms OF
sleeves, and this little sport often ends in
love-"
The origin of the custom is ascribed also tc
the Lupercal Feaets at Rome in honor of Par
and Juno, in one Of the games of which young
persons, male and female, select each other,
by lot, in sport.
The practice of sending valentines is com
| paratiyely modern one. At first they wer,
mere messengers of love, and there was gen
| orally some clue by which the recipients knew
who their admirers were: but of late evil dis.
posed persons have tried 10 CRAFTY their NOR
bid tastes by sending to their neighbors carl
catures of such nature that it is better to b,
the receiver than the sender. 1t is true, it il
frequently done by young folks in way of
joke, but in most cases, doubtless, the motiv
is a bad enc. Envious and spteful persons
who have not the courage to confront thei
| opponents, resort to comic valentines as
means of venting their spleen, and unfortu
nately the practice is not confined to tn
! lower classes. Could old St. Valentine nol
see how the day dedicated 10 him has degen
Grated from symbolic festival to bay 0
disgraceful practices, he would surely sa,
aceursed stand this day in the calender 0
aims."