Happy Valentine's Day

Do you ever wonder how we got from the martyred Saint Valentine in ancient Rome to the cards, candy and teddy bears of today's Valentine's Day?

Well, here is a little time-line if you are interested:

• 3rd Century, Rome- the death or burial of St. Valentine (with his own mysterious legends)
• 5th Century, Rome- the pope declares February 14th St. Valentine's Day (Some believe this was an attempt to 'christianize' pagan holiday. The goddess of women and marriage was celebrated on Feb 14th and the fertility festival Lupercalia began Feb 15th)
• Middle Ages, France and England- People believed that Feb 14 was the start of the mating season for birds
• 17th Century, Great Britain- the holiday gains popularity
• Mid 18th Century, Great Britain and US- friends and lovers give each other small gifts or notes
• Late 18th Century, Great Britain and US- printed cards became popular with new printing technology
• 1840s, United States- mass-production of valentines by Esther A. Howland
• Today- celebrated in the US, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia, (the second largest card-sending holiday of the year – about one billion valentine cards sent annually) with an explosion of pink and red that begins the day after Christmas

Did you know...
February was also the official start of spring in ancient Rome, and a time for spring cleaning and purification. It is fitting that this month we are Enamored with Amelanchier, an ornamental tree with pure white spring flowers, in our article 'Serviceberry- A Sweet Sign of Spring'.