Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-02-10
FEBRUARY Ia.
Changes In the Observance of st. vaIen-
+iruta Innr-A Wary Anclnnt Enatiunl.

Changes In the Observance OF ST. Naien-
tines Day-A Very Ancient Festival
The 14th day of February, popu-
larly known as St Valentines day, is
remarkable as being festival which
has no connection with the one from
whom it takes its name. There is more
than one saint of that name, but in all
the legends connected with them there
is no trace of the practice peculiar to
the day.
Bishop Valentine, with whom the
day is most generally connected, was
martyred at Rome, in the third century,
being first beaten with clubs and then
beheaded. The greater part of his re-
mains are preserved in the Church of
ST. Praxedes, at Rome, where a gate
now the Porta del Popolo-was former
ly named from him "Porta Valentini."
1t is most probable that the custom
may have descended to us from the an
cient Romans, who, during the Luper-
Gala celebrated in the month of Feb
ruary) used to put the names of young
women into box, from which they
were drawn by the men as chance di-
| rected.
With the advent of Christianity, this
| pagan custom survived in common with
many others, and the church, finding it
impossible to extirpate it, gave it n re-
| ligious aspect. The names of certain
saints were substituted for those of the
women, and the one which was drawn
became the patron saint for that year,
and was termed valentine"
From this the custom advanced until
it became an annual festival, generally
celebrated in England, Scotland, and
in different parts of the continent Of
Europe, particularly Lorraine and
Maine in France.
On the eve of St. Valentines day a
number of young people would assem-
BILE together and inscribe on little bill
lets the names of an equal number OF
maids and bachelors of their ac-
quaintance, throw the whole into re-
ceptacle of some sort and then draw
them by lot, care of course being taken
that each should draw one of the op-
posite sex, the person thus drawn be-
coming n valentine for year
1t naturally followed that the young
man would feel it incumbent to give
| al
ciprocated with flower, or some such
token. Up to the fifteenth century it
was customary for both sexes to make
each other presents, but latterly the
obligation was restricted to young
men.
All this, of course, has nothing to dc
with the martyred Bishop Valentine
or any other of that name; but it real
ly makes no difference, since the day
has greatly degenerated from it:
former observance. With the intro
duction of so-called comic" valen'
tines, the day lost caste.
A comic valentine is usually moth
ing but gross libel, couched in coarse
rhyme, and no sensible person vii
send one under any circumstances
The practice is not witty, and can ac
complish no good purpose.
There are, to-be-sure, very pretty
and appropriate valentines, which may
be sent with propriety, and which arr
received with pleasures; but even herr
the custom has received setback
since there is tendency to make th'
valentines SO costly that rnany people
who cannot afford to compete will
other and richer friends, do not sent
valentines at all
The day is interesting, however, as
survival of very ancient festival, ant
it will doubtless survive for man,
years in modified form. Of late tn
custom is growing of substituting lit
tie gifts such as gloves, ribbons an
other articles dear to the feminin
heart, for the printed cards, and il
time to come we may see something
like another Christmas or New Year
day.
At present its observance can b
made cheerful or otherwise, accordin
to the good taste of the observer, an
it is hoped that no seif-respecting bo
or girl will take advantage of the da
to wound an enemy or insult friene
Golden Days.