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Show A StXtsA feyfttt fridoy, Febfuory 10, 1984 Flowers, hearts nd love By Janson Cook Express Society Editor Valentine's Day, the origin of which is rather obscure, is still widely celebrated in the United States because people still love romance. Legend differs as to the exact beginning begin-ning of Valentine's Day, but most tell of St. Valentine, who was a priest or bishop who lived the the third century after Christ. Most legends agree that he was executed ex-ecuted on Feb. 14, but the details differ. dif-fer. According to one legend, Valentine was a Roman priest with a special feeling for young people. Emperor Claudius II decreed that no one could marry or become engaged, hoping that more men would become soldiers and help fight the wars. The kindly Valentine defied the Emperor's decree and secretly married a number of young people. He was arrested, imprisoned im-prisoned and put to death. Another tells of a Valentine who was seized for helping Christians who were being persecuted by Claudius II. During Dur-ing Valentine's time in prison, he was especially friendly with the jailer's blind daughter, and by a miracle, restored her sight. The morning of his execution he is said to have sent her a farewell message signed, "From your Valentine." February 14, when Valentine is supposed sup-posed to have died, was the eve of an important Roman festival, the Luper-calia, Luper-calia, which was a spring festival. On this evening, Roman youths drew the ( A i . . r VALENTINE'S DAY foods are usually sweets, such as candy in a heart-shaped box. Brian Smith follows this tradition, giving Heidi Pease this valentine. VALENTINE COOKIES 1 cup sugar 1 cup shortening 1 cup buttermilk legg 1 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. nutmeg Vi tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. soda 2 cups flour Mix together unbeaten egg, sugar, shortening, vanilla and milk. Add mixture mix-ture of flour, salt, baking powder, soda and nutmeg. Mix well. Add enough flour to make a stiff dough. Roll out Vi to ' inch thick, depending on size of cookie to be cut. Bake at 375' until names of girls who would be their partners part-ners during the festival. This is one custom that remained after the holiday evolved from being a pagan holiday to become St. Valentine's Valen-tine's Day. As time passed, Valentine's Day has come to symbolize love and romance. Valentine became synonomous with sweetheart, and later, a message of love written on a piece of paper. These valentines have kept not only on-ly the holiday, but most of its symbols, alive. Valentines might be decorated in watercolor in delicate pen and ink. Often they are made out of paper, lace and pictures with a verse or message to the recipient. . In past times, many different kinds of valentines were made and sent to one's sweethearts. Acrostic valentines had verses in which the first letter of the lines spelled spell-ed out the loved one's name. Cutout valentines were made by folding the paper several times and then cutting out a lacelike design with scissors. Pin prick valentines had the look of paper lace. These were made by pricking prick-ing tiny holes in paper with a pin or needle. Some valentines had designs that were painted through a stencil cut in oil paper, a style that came from the Orient. They are Theorem or Poonah valentines. Valentines with verses in which tiny lightly golden. Frost and decorate. J K . Send a VERS mi pictures take the place of some of the words are rebus valentines. An eye might stand for I, or a heart shape for the word heart. Puzzle Purse valentines were a puzzle puz-zle to read and to refold. Scattered among their many folds were verses that had to be read in a certain order. Valentine messages have changed throughout the years. They were from messages such as: "Wilt thou be mine? dear love, reply, Sweet consent, or else deny; Whisper softly, none shall know, Wilt thou be mine, love? ay or no?" which was written by Duke Charles of Orleans, a French war prision in the 15th century, to the modern greeting card messages. By the late 1700's men in love were sending Valentine love letters or verses on paper printed with delicate flowers, hearts, cupids, love birds or loving couples. These are symbols of Valentine's Day like holly, Santa Claus and reindeer stand for Christmas. In the language of symbols, a red or pink heart, pierced with an arrow, spells Valentine's Day. This is the most univerisal and enduring symbol of the holiday of love and romance. The heart has always been held in awe. It is considered the source of intelligence, in-telligence, love or the soul. Even though with modern science we know different today, we still speak of having hav-ing a "broken heart," sending "heartfelt" "heart-felt" greetings, or being "heartsick." k Along with the heart, Cupid is a common com-mon symbol of the romantic holiday. Among ancient people, a person pierced pierc-ed with one of Cupid's arrows suffered the pleasant malady of lovesickness. The red poinsettia has become a symbol of Christmas, and the while lily a symbol of Easter. But no one flower is the symbol of Valentine's Day. Rather, a single flower, a bouquet or a garland of flowers have become the expression of the essence of the holiday. Flowers have often been used to form a secret language and it is common com-mon today to "say it with flowers." Meanings vary but might go something like this: Bleeding heart means "hopeless, but not heartless;" a gardenia says "I love you in secret; " lily of the valley, "Let us make up;" rose, "I love you passionately;" a sweet William tells one "You are gallant, suave, perfect," and a violet says, "I return your love." Green leaves have stood for hope in a love affair. British girls used to place bay leaves sprinkled with rose water on their pillows on St. Valentine's Day eve. They hoped to see in their dreams the faces of their future husbands. Lace has long been used as a symbol sym-bol of love from the time when a knight rode to battle with his lady's scarf or ribbon as a love token. When paper lace began to be made it was very common on valentines, and today it expresses the frilly nature of Submitted by the Uintah Poetry Society )) REMINISCING Those Valentines, all red and white I gave with all my heart Expecting I would get some back along with apple tarts. Then I'd cut paper snowflakes as lacy as could be Centering them with pictures bright. Oh! they're a true beauty. Putting on a coat to go outside and play in falling snow I wondered why I never could shape my own snowflakes so. I watched them spiraling through sky softly setting down and tried to see my paper ones in their glittering gown. They'd never be originals though I tried very hard. If I could have a choice, I'd choose the real ones in our yard. JOSHUA AND Melissa Burdett prepare their valentines to give on Feb. 14. Giving messages the holiday. Most holidays have special foods. Valentine's Day foods have traditionally tradi-tionally been all toppings some kind of sweet, often in the shape of a heart. These may vary from a large heart weighing five pounds and made of solid chocolate to the tiny pastel candy can-dy hearts, printed with mottos such as "Me, too!" "Hi, Babe!" and "You bet! ". Today this has expanded to include in-clude cookies, cakes, desserts of all kinds, even main dishes. One shop in Chicago this year is selling heart-shaped heart-shaped bagels, or you can get two heart-shaped bagels braided together. Valentine's Day, which in history was celebated in many countries, is now celebrated mostly in the United States and Great Britain. It is faithfully faithful-ly celebrated by children. In school valentines are exchanged with classmates, special friends and teachers. Believing in romance these days is risky and a little confusing. Novels, songs, movies, plays are full of romance and triumphant love, but those in love are told to "be realistic," "take your head out of the clouds," and "grow up." Many are afraid to celebrate the romantic holiday, while others decide that, as poets and prophets have said from time immemorial, romance is "the only way to fly," and they make the most of the holiday of love. i : . V': -7 - ..MiMMWMIill Hill T'll tf2s n( . p., 11 .... . f 4 li v-. f .... rt . H 'i. LEAVING VALENTINES on the tradition that began in England . For children of all ages With $5 off you can brag about the price too. Now Only $7,95 M Coupon (Reg. 1255) r Kmart Collection Includes 2 r i r- m iCoupom $5 off Reg. price These days only - February: Wed Thur Frl Sat Sun ! of love to those special to us has long been a Valentine's tradition. doorstep of the recipient is a in the late 1700s. - 8x10s, 3-5x7s and 15 wallets, Presentthiscoupontoourphotographerwith95Cdepositon I your portrait collection. One coupon per family. Not valid with ! anyotherot)er.$1 sittingteetoreachadditionalsubjectinsame portrait. Satisfaction always or your money refunded. Offer I valid only on dates and at locations listed. 08 09 10 11 12 Daily: 10 AM - 8 PM Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM Sunday: 10 AM - 5 PM 1153 West Highway 40, Vernal L By Beulah McConkle CALC THE PORTRAIT PLACE 4 |