Friday the 14th February is St Valentine’s Day. February 14th is the day when lovers around the world declare their feelings for each other with gifts and flowers. Far from being a recent, American tradition it originally began life as a celebration of the life of one of the early Christian saints and various legends grew up around St Valentine. During the Middle Ages, Chaucer’s time, February 14th became associated with romantic love and today it is associated with Valentine cards, flowers, gifts and even engagements. It is still a feast day in the Anglican Church. These days the advertising and materialism that surround the day tends to detract from the original intention. It is easy to dismiss the whole idea rather than spend money you can’t afford on gifts that are not necessary, but that destroys the romance, surely?….enjoy the day, it is only here once a year.
