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Saturday, February 14, 2009

VALENTINE'S DAY PAGAN AND CHRISTIAN

Cupid Shoots His Arrow on Valentine's Day - historic postcard - gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Fred Berk 2009 (click on image to enlarge)
February 14 has been the Feast of Love from very, very ancient times. At the first inkling of Spring, our ancestors celebrated the coming re-birth of the Earth and its vegetation in the month of Februs (spirit of love-making). Today is the Feast of Eros, little God of love. Called Cupid by the Romans, he was worshipped as the offspring of the Goddess of love Venus or Aphrodite and the virile God of war, Lord Ares or Mars.
The Christian deacon-priest Valentine was supposedly imprisoned for his beliefs by the Romans. From his cell Valentino sent messages assuring his flock of Christ's abiding love. His message became known as Valentines. You can bet that Hallmark won't let us forget the Festival of Love in the foreseeable future.