Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-02-08
ST. VALENTINES DAY.
CEREMONIES HANDED DOWN
FOR MANY GENERATIONS.
Customs Among the Ancient Romans-In
Every Country the Unwritten Law Mixes
Up Young Folks, True Love, and Express
i've Gifts.
In Honor of a Martyr.

Superstition is nearly rs old as man,
and that 1t exists now quite rs strong,
though not as widespread as in the
early ages of our world, is proved by
the various rites and ceremonies prac-
ticed on certain days throughout the
year, says u writer in Table Talk.
Even those who ridicule them, yet
participate in them "just for fun, have
lingering half-suspicion in their
minds that they might come true"
especially is this the case when incli-
nation points the way. st. Valentine
is the acknowledged patron saint of
lovers; and the peculiar customs con-
nected with the day were referred to
by writer's nearly 500 years ago. The
st. Valentine, who suffered martyrdom
on the l4th OF February, was one of
fifty-two saints of that name, but moth
ing has ever been found in his life, CT
in the lives of any of them, that would
give occasion for the singular observ-
ances of the day. 1t has been main
tanned that IL was an ancient custom
among the Romans during the Luper-
Gala, celebrated in the month of
February, for the boys and men to draw
the names of their future wives in
honor of their goddess. Februate Juno,
and that the Christian clergy finding
it absolutely impossible TO abolish this
heather practice changed it to a re-
ligious ceremony by writing on the
slips of paper instead of the names of
women those of particular saints, whom
they were to follow and initiate during
the year. | have been told the custom
still remains in the Roman Catholic
Church to select On ST. Valentine
day patron saint for the ensuing
year.
In England, Scotland, France, and
some other parts of the continent it
was formerly the custom of the young
people to meet, write each others, or
some of their acquaintances', names on
slip OF paper, which were thrown in
to box from which they were drawn,
the men taking the girls names and
vice versa. The person thus drawing
became ones valentine, and for a whole
year was bound to devote him self to
the one who drew him. Sometimes. of
course, this led to real engagements
between the parties, and often tricks
were played in such "a way that the
slips of paper fell into the hands they
were meant for. During the fifteenth
century married people could be chosen
as we'll as those who were not married,
and often very valuable presents were
exchanged. 1t is recorded that the
| Duke of York gave TO lady who was
| his valentine that year a jewel worth
$780, and that the following year, hav-
| ing been chosen by some one else, she
| received q ring worth goo.
In after years the word valentine was
transferred from the people to the
missives they sent. These missives,
instead of being the fancy creations in
lace. satin and ribbons which we now
see, were selections of poetry, more or
less sentimental, ranging in style from
: the rude couplet
| 9The rose is red. the violet blue.
The lily Is sweet and so are you,n
to the more elegant quotations from
the poets. These were copied on all
kinds of paper, plain or fancy, as suited
the taste of the sender, were some
times accompanied by pen sketches OF
two doves, lovers knots, cupids, and
other sentimental devices, and, adj
dressed to the beloved object, were
slipped under the front doors on the
morning of st. Valentines day or sent
by mail. In small towns they were left
with the postmaster, who was usually
the general storekeeper, to be deliv-
cred, without charge, to his customers
Wn6u Uney Cdllcu lOt tHelT Ildll. vi
late years this pretty custom has been
brought into disfavor by the so-called
comic valentines, which are disgrace
to the name. though they are used only
by the lower classes and occasionally
| by mischievous children.
The valentines which are not comic
can be bought as low as 5 cents, and
from that upward to as many or more
dollars, and some of them in the form
of cards are really very pretty; but IL
seems foolish waste OF money. A few
pennies spent to perpetuate an limo.
cent custom is not so bad; but, for the
dollars, books, pictures, or some useful
article could be bought and sent as val.
entines, in place of those hideous and
useless combinations of laces and rib
bons which one does not know what &c
do with. They are not even like Christ
mas and Easter cards, some OF which
are little works OF art, and can be used
as book-markers and pasted in scrap
books TO amuse children, but the valen
tines are only dust-catchers whose fina
destination Is the h-barrel.