February 12, 2020 Issue, Page 7 of 14

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Page 8 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma ‘Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Love Is eat _ LENTINE'S DAY February 4 Valentine’s Day history ~ Cot your gweetheart the gift of 3 By History editors Valentine’s Day occurs ev- man prisons, where they were often beaten and tor- Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was relaxation by giving us a call! ery February 14. Across the United States and in other tured. According to one imprisoned in the Tower of legend, an imprisoned Val- London following his cap- Happy Valentine’s Day! IT places around the world, ture at the Battle of Agin- ‘Supreme Float Center and Salon entine actually sent the first candy, flowers and gifts are “valentine” greeting himself court. (The greeting is now exchanged between loved after he fell in love with a part of the manuscript col- ones, all in the name of St. young girl-possibly his jail- lection of the British Library "| Floatingis a natural, medication free, way to manage your achesand pains. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and where or’s daughter-who visited him during his confinement. in London, England.) Sev- eral years later, it is believed G17 West 3ril Street, Elk City - 580-225-0223 did these traditions come Before his death, it is alleged that King Henry V hired a from? Find out about the that he wrote her a letter writer named John Lydgate history of Valentine’s Day, signed “From your Valen- to compose a valentine note Don’t pick her up with cracked window! from the ancient Roman tine,” an expression that is to Catherine of Valois. call us and we will come to you! ritual of Lupercalia that wel- still in use today. Although comed spring to the card- the truth behind the Valen- Typical Valentine’s Day Greetings Happy Valentine’s Day! giving customs of Victorian tine legends is murky, the In addition to the United KTS AUTO GLASS England. stories all emphasize his ap- States, Valentine’s Day is The Legend of St. Valen- peal as a sympathetic, heroic celebrated in Canada, Mex- tine and-most — importantly-ro- ico, the United Kingdom, The history of Valentine’s mantic figure. By the Middle France and Australia. In Serving a 100 mile radius of Willow, Oklahoma + We come to you! Day-and the story of its Ages, perhaps thanks to this Great Britain, Valentine’s patron saint-is shrouded in reputation, Valentine would Day began to be popularly [email protected] * 580-291-3786 * Owner-Kristofer Schell mystery. We do know that become one of the most pop- celebrated around the 17th February has long been ular saints in England and century. By the middle of celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Val- France. Valentine’s Day: A Day the 18th, it was common for friends and lovers of all Nothing says love like new flooring! entine’s Day, as we know it social classes to exchange Kilhoffer Flooring Center of Romance today, contains vestiges of Lupercalia survived the small tokens of affection or Treat your both Christian and ancient Roman tradition, But who initial rise of Christianity handwritten notes, and by DBA Bell's Carpet sweetie and get but was outlawed —as it was 1900 printed cards began to was Saint Valentine, and deemed “un-Christian”—at replace written letters due sling at Affordable Prices” the flooring she how did he become associ- the end of the Sth century, to improvements in print- IK has been wishing ated with this ancient rite? The Catholic Church rec- when Pope Gelasius de- ing technology. Ready-made Residential & Commenters for this clared February 14 St. Val- cards were an easy way for ognizes at least three differ- entine’s Day. It was not people to express their emo- 580-225-1294 Valentine’s Day! ent saints named Valentine until much later, however, tions in a time when direct or Valentinus, all of whom that the day became defini- expression of one’s feelings were martyred. One legend tively associated with love. was discouraged. Cheaper contends that Valentine was During the Middle Ages, postage rates also contrib- a priest who served during it was commonly believed uted to an increase in the FURNITURE the third century in Rome. in France and England that popularity of sending Valen- When Emperor Claudius TI decided that single men February 14 was the begin- tine’s Day greetings. MATTRESS ning ofbirds’ mating season, Americans probably be- made better soldiers than which added to the idea that gan exchanging hand-made those with wives and fami- the middle of Valentine’s valentines in the early 1700s. lies, he outlawed marriage Day should be a day for ro- In the 1840s, Esther A.How- for young men. Valentine, mance. The English poet land began selling the first realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and Geoffrey Chaucer was the mass-produced valentines in first to record St. Valentine’s America. Howland, known continued to perform mar- Day as a day of romantic as the “Mother of the Val- riages for young lovers in celebration in his 1375 poem entine,” made elaborate cre- secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, “Parliament of Foules,” ations with real lace, ribbons Claudius ordered that he writing, “For this was sent and colorful pictures known be put to death. Still others on Seynt Valentyne’s day as “scrap.” Today, according insist that it was Saint Val- / Whan every foul cometh to the Greeting Card Associ- entine of Terni, a bishop, ther to choose his mate.” ation, an estimated 145 mil- who was the true namesake Valentine greetings were lion Valentine’s Day cards of the holiday. He, too, was popular as far back as the are sent each year, making beheaded by Claudius II out- Middle Ages, though writ- Valentine’s Day the second side Rome. ten Valentine’s didn’t begin largest card-sending holiday Other stories suggest that to appear until after 1400. of the year (more cards are Valentine may have been The oldest known valentine sent at Christmas). Women killed for attempting to help still in existence today was purchase approximately 85 Christians escape harsh Ro- a poem written in 1415 by percent of all valentines. “Elk City, Oklahoma 380-225-2500 Aruba Chocolate Sofa 1203 S. 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