Happy Valentines Day

Be My Valentine

Valentines Day, although named after two of the many early Christian Martyrs named Valentine like many modern cultural traditions, in this case a ‘day of romance’, it has very little to do with its early religious origins, and it seems that the romance association is drawn from the phenomenal Geoffrey Chaucer, although amusingly, it seems likely that this results from a misreading where February 14th is assumed to be the St. Valentine Chaucer is referring to, when it is more likely May 2nd, the saints’ day for Valentine of Genoa.

The poem, Parlement of Foules (1382):

For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.

However, moving on from the history, today the celebration of Valentines day is often dismissed, unfairly, as a Hallmark Holiday. However, it appears that the commercial spirit has not taken hold everywhere, and I was pleased to come across this little act of resisting this commercialisation, that also held a certain artistic flair.

The craftivist who runs the blog a lonely craftivist says:

“One hundred cards will be left around Central London this Valentine’s day. Each contains an alternative valentine’s letter, a handmade gift and a sweet. Hand delivered to gaps in walls, cash machine slots, shop shelves- they won’t be affected by the postal delays and you don’t have to be in a relationship to have one of these!”

This is a repeat of the same event that took place in Liverpool last year, and this brilliant magazine has an article that shows you where the cards were last year. This just struck me as a nice bit of artistic rebel romance. Good luck finding the envelopes!

 

Happy Valentines Day!