Saint Valentin

History of Valentine's day

From the antiquity the middle of February is attached to the lovers because in antique Rome on February 15th it was the day of celebration of Lupercales. These festivities celebrated with honors: Lupercus and fertility. Sacrifices to this God were made and this holiday was the occasion to celebrate rites of fertility. A sort of lottery was organized: the girls and the boys deposited their name in an urn and one drew lots her companion or partner of evening and more if affinity...

These festivities not being of the taste of the Church, it is in 496 that the pope Gélase Ier abolishes Lupercales which he considered these are decadent; he dedicated then on February 14th to Saint Valentin. This Saint man was according to his legend, the defender of the lovers, because while in 268, the emperor Claude II Gothic was not favourable to the marriage which dismissed his soldiers, Saint Valentin in spite of the suspension continued to marry the young people in secret, he was arrested and was beheaded on February 14th.

In Medieval time, it was collectively allowed that in the middle of February marked the beginning of the season of courtship to birds. So, looking for answers in the nature, the girls waited on February 14th to see a bird which supposed bringing her invaluable information about her future husband. Small lexicon of " reading of birds " : a robin , marriage with a man in uniform, a sparrow presaged a happy marriage, but with a man without money, and a goldfinsh presaged a marriage with a rich man. And especially it was not necessary to cross of squirrel symbol of miserliness.

From the XIV-th century, it was in customs by February 14th to exchange paper with the elected member of the heart to inform her of the feelings, these small words were named " valentines ".

Saint Valentin and the Provence.

Provence is the country of sun and love

At Roquemaure town of the Gard, every year Valentine's is the occasion of big festivities... A great historic reconstruction is organized; a more than 20 000 guest comes every year to participate in this holiday in honour of the saint of the lovers. It is not harmless that this town of Provence sees things in big in this occasion because it is in 1868 that Vaucluse welcomes the relics of Saint Valentin to cure ill vineyard of Roquemaure...

Every year since the arrival of holy relics, Roquemaure this town of Provence makes great effort to honour as he owes to Saint Valentin.

If you want great February 14th, go for a walk round at Roquemaure this day, everything is dedicated to the lovers, love is in the air....

Good Valentine's day

To see report on Roquemaure and Saint Valentin - Celebrate Valentine's day in Provence

Click here to see ideas for Holy Valentin present