St. Valentia's (holiday)

St. Valentia's Day is an annual holiday celebrated by a majority of the population in Aelus. It occurs on the 14th Sun of the Second Moon, 2 / 14, and was originally popularized in the Northë.

The holiday is named after a famed knight of the Northë who was called Orentine Valentia; it is said that during the Second Moon one year, Valentia became privy to a predicament two of his fellow knights were facing in regards to romance. Both of them were to be stationed at cities in opposite ends of the region, but they could not bear to leave each other. Saddened at their eventual parting, Valentia, who was off duty at the time, decided to go out of his way to ferry gifts and letters between the two lovebirds. It is said that at the end of their stationed duties they arranged for marriage and lived together for the rest of their days. Hearing of his altruistic efforts, many citizens of the Northë began to ask for Valentia's help in other affairs of the heart -- from baking sweets to selecting gifts, or delivering love letters -- and he became known for his deeds in the name of romance. After his death, others who were inspired to do the same carried on his legacy. Eventually, after the original tales had become slowly warped by the passage of time, it became somewhat of a tradition to deliver love letters and gifts of sweets and whatnot to one's loved ones on the 14th Sun of the Second Moon -- the day Valentia was born. After some time, The Knights of The Dreadwyrm recognized Valentia's past deeds as admirable acts of knighthood, and he was elevated to sainthood, solidifying the holiday's name as St. Valentia's Day.

### **Customs and Typical Practices**

On the day of St. Valentia's, it is common practice for those who celebrate to give gifts of sweets, perfumes, flowers, and letters to those they love. There are different types of gifts for different forms of love, which each have different messages. It is also customary for gift-givers to prepare their gifts weeks in advance, often creating homemade sweets or searching for the rarest or most fanciful items. It is not uncommon for popular individuals to receive many gifts on this day. Common gift choices include chocolates, cakes, macarons, perfumes, flower bouquets, and stuffed toys; typical colours associated with the holiday include red, pink, cream, and brown.

#### **Gift Types & Their Meanings**

* **Milk chocolates** - implies romantic affections
* **Dark chocolates** - implies romantic affections, attraction; more mature than milk chocolates
* **Stuffed toys** - implies affections, usually within friendship, but can also be paired with milk chocolates
* **Macarons** - often given to family members, sometimes given to role models or mentors; implies strong bonds or admiration
* **Cookies** (of any kind) - given to friends, acquaintances, and coworkers to express gratitude or amicable feelings
* **Perfumes** - given to potential romantic partners; implies intention to confess one's love
* **Flowers** - given to established romantic partners; implies a happy relationship, admiration
* **Cake** - given to married partners; a testament to a happy marriage, symbolizes bountiful love

It is also common for gift givers to mix and match various gifts to craft a unique message and symbolism that suits their needs.For example, a chocolate cake along with a box of dark chocolates is a popular gift for married couples. Stores will typically start selling St. Valentia's products early in the First Moon; confectioners, bakeries, chocolatiers, cafes, and specialty stores are the most common places to buy St. Valentia's goods.

#### **Fashion and Clothing Aspects**

St. Valentia's has also sparked a unique scene of specialty outfits and accessories created specifically for the holiday, which has garnered a large fanbase within the more well-to-do circles -- those with extra pocket change at their disposal will often buy special outfits to wear just for the day. Typical clothing choices available include dresses, stylized maidservant wear, embellished suit styles, nightdress styles, and even lingerie. Most often these are made of high purity silk or cotton, dyed in pinks, reds, creams, and browns, and embellished with lace, ruffles, heart motifs, and patterns. Alongside this, special St. Valentia's makeup is also popular around this time.

#### **Social Practices**

Typical social practice involves requesting a meeting time on or before the 13th Sun of the Second Moon, to be honoured on the 14th. Here, they then exchange gifts and affections, gratitude, or hopes for future romance. Between established couples, St. Valentia's dates are popular; usually couples will dress up for the occasion and visit a cafe or garden for the day, returning home in the evening. In general, St. Valentia's day is most widely known as a day of romance and love.