lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered he was imprisoned and put to death on February 14th. Legend has it that whilst in prison Valentine fell in love with the jailor's daughter who often came to visit him. Before he was put to death he wrote her a letter signing it "From your Valentine."  Some say Valentine was killed because of his attempt to help Christians escape the torture of harsh Roman prisons. Over the years these legendary tales portrayed Valentine as a compassionate, romantic hero and by the middle ages Valentine had become one of  England's most popular saints. So much so that each year on February 14th  St. Valentine was remembered in celebration.  One middle age English custom was for young men and women to write their name on

a small card and place it in a bowl, they would then draw names to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week, hence the saying "To wear your heart on your sleeve" meaning letting others know how you are feeling. Children would go door to door dressed in adult clothing singing about St. Valentine and placing a small gift on the doorstep. 

Women in  particular seemed to take the romance of  St.Valentines Day much more

seriously, having some very strange superstitions, for example:  The first eligible male a young girl would meet on this day would be the man she would eventually marry. If a woman saw a Robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day it would mean she would marry a sailor or if she saw a sparrow she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If a young lady went to the graveyard at midnight on February 14th, sang a prescribed chant and ran around the church 12 times she would be able to conjure up the appearance of her future husband.

Symbols of love for Valentine's Day passed down from the middle ages are The rose, sacred to Venus the Goddess of Love. Doves and lovebirds represented a mate for life. It was once believed that they choose their mate in the middle of February. A heart... the center of all emotion. People believed that by giving a heart, they were giving all the love and emotion they could possibly give. Cupid, the cute little winged cherub with a bow and arrow which he uses to place people into love. The legend of Cupid can be traced back to the days of the

Roman Empire. It is said that Cupid, the son of Venus and symbol of passionate love, fell in love with Psyche, a mortal who was tempted to look into the 'box of beauty' and when she did, she unleashed a deep slumber onto herself. After searching the world for her, Cupid eventually found her in her deep sleep and because of his profound, passionate love for her

was able to take the sleep from her and place it back into the box of beauty. His arrow was used to pierce her heart and awaken her.

The first Valentine card,  now preserved in the British Museum, is said to be that of Charles, Duke Of Orleans,  sent in 1415 to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Valentine cards were first  introduced to the United States in 1847 by  Esther A. Howland, of

Worcester, Massachusetts. Howland reproduced a British valentine card made up of pretty pasted paper and lace containing a romantic verse.  After hiring staff of young women, she soon expanded her business into a $100,000 a year enterprise. Realizing the popularity of the Valentine card  it was not long before other manufactures got on the bandwagon though not all stuck with the pretty pictures and sentimental verse. The production of humorous valentine cards, referred to as 'vinegar valentines' were soon to follow. These cards would feature  ugly comic caricatures and contained verse far from romantic. Some being so crude and ugly that they were often sent anonymously. Some comic valentines designed by cartoonists sold for a penny each and were sometimes called "penny dreadfuls."

February 1929 Valentine's Day was marked with a day that in no way symbolized love. On this day seven well-dressed men were found riddled with bullets inside a Chicago garage. The men had been lined up facing a wall,  and viciously gunned down by members of the legendary Al  (Scar face) Capone gang. The victims were mobsters working under the leadership of gangster and rival bootlegger, "Bugs" Moran. During the height of prohibition and competition between gangster rivals, this gang-land killing was nothing new to Chicago but became known as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.

Valentine's Day is now celebrated in different ways around the world mainly by the giving of flowers, candy and greetings cards. Whereas in Europe it is still only customary to send a Valentine to your sweetheart or one you secretly admire, here in the United States, Valentine cards are intended for all family and friends as well as sweethearts. Despite the legends, myths, superstitions and finally commercialism, telling someone "I love you" or "you're special"  certainly does not do any harm  and let's face it, who doesn't like being told  those words. As a matter of fact,  being told you're "A Cool Dude" or "Groovy Chic" or "# 1 Friend" is still a compliment most would  love to receive. Maybe  we should have more than one Valentine's Day!

Good morrow! 'Tis St. Valentine's Day
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your valentine! 
--- William Shakespeare