The coldest days of the year are just passed and, in my beautiful Genoa, we continue to oscillate between marvellous days and those that, with my great fun, in Ireland I heard been called "miserable days".
However in the air, from some days, there's the smell of the incoming
Spring and everywhere people are preparing for
Valentine's Day. For this I thought to create some theme cards and to talk you a bit about this festivity that I find really curious :)
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| Necklace & Earrings "Big Heart CartEssenza" |
At the beginning there were Lupercalia: like a lot of actual christian festivities, even Valentine's Day has roots in the previous pagan culture. Before the advent of Christian Religion, from 13th to 15th February, it was in fact celebrated the roman festivity of Lupercalia, in honour of the god Fauno Lupercus, the protector of cattle from wolves, that in a so cold and poor period were hungry and so were attacking flocks. These days were also dedicated to fertility, like a lot of pagan festivities.
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| Necklace & Earrings "Big Heart CartEssenza" |
Valentine's Day festivity has been established in 496 A.D. by Papa Gelasio I to replace pagan Lupercalia: it seems, in fact, that the roman population, even if already converted to Christianity, was continuing to celebrate the pagan festivity.
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| Pendant & Earrings "Big Heart CartEssenza" |
As the patron saint of the new festivity was chosen S. Valentino because of a story, between legend and truth, related to this martyr: it seems that the roman bishop Valentino da Terni, when he was imprisoned due to his christian creed by the emperor Aureliano, before being killed gave back sight to the blind child of a roman noble. He was in love with the girl and, when he was taken away to be decapitated, left her a goodbye message that was ending with the words "...yours Valentino (valentine)".
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| Pendant & Earrings "Big Heart CartEssenza" |
Between Lupercalia feast and the Valentine's day, it seems that on the February 14th there was another celebration: the Saint Febronia's one, martyr in Nisibis (actual Turkey), also tied to pagan tradition. The name suggests it, since its root is in Februarius (February), from februare = to purify. Before it seems that in same days was celebrated even the Giunone Februa feast, also Juno Purifier. The festivity was then moved to the June 25th, day in which it's still celebrated mostly in the South of Italy.
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| Pendant & Earrings "Big Heart CartEssenza" |
Anyway it seems that the Valentine's day as we know it, dedicated mainly to spiritual love, was a lot later: some connect it with the english Chaucer's Circle, some others to cortly love inspired tendencies in France; in fact in Paris, the 14 of February 1400, was founded for example a "
Love Tribunal" in which were judged sentimental litigations.
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| Pendant & Earrings "Big Heart CartEssenza" |
In the end, from XIX century started the use of sending to your own lover
valentines, love notes taking the name from the day, and later flowers, jewels, chocolates boxes and other presents.
If then you don't have really no one to dedicate a thought in Lovers' Day, you don't have to worry: the February 15th, in fact, it's celebrated
San Faustino, the saint that in last years became protector of single people ;)
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| Pendant & Earrings "Big Heart CartEssenza" |
Now that you know the roots of this festivity, what you think: we celebrate together?
Here is where to find
"Big Heart CartEssenza" accessories (like always in paper and recylced materials, completely water proof), ready to gift to the one that owns your heart:
Pendant
Earrings
For the
Necklace write me a mail at: cartessenza[at]libero.it
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