Chaucer wrote about VD

By "VD," of course, I refer to Valentine's Day. What did you think I meant?!

Previous posts in the dryer have noted that there were no fewer than 11 saints named Valentine, none of whom seem to receive much recognition in modern celebrations of the day. Odd, no?

Anyway, I recently came across a passage in Chaucer's medieval story "Parliament of Fools" that would indicate the holiday lost its connection to sainthood and became more about romance a LONG time ago. He wrote:

"For this was sent on St. Valentine's Day,
When every fool comes there to choose his mate!"

So, the next time some cynic tries to dismiss this as a day created by the candymakers or Hallmark, you can justifiably declare PHOOEY on them!

Enjoy your VD, y'all!

A folksy Valentine

Well, ye socks, not much going on in this little corner of heaven this holiday weekend.

Yeah, right!

There's always something, right?

Today involved a stroll down Princeton to the shores of Lake Formosa, where the Mennello Museum was hosting its annual Folk Festival.

An interesting, eclectic group of folks there.

Didn't buy anything, just some browsing.

Really, just a good excuse to take a little urban hike.

Drop the apostrophe and move the "s"

Ok, I don't want to engage in the debate over whether or not today is a holiday manufactured by Hallmark and the candy industry. Truth be told the Roman Catholic Church kinda invented it themselves to supercede the ancient pagan fertility festivals. Whatever.

But, the grammarian in me must tell all ye socks not to call it St. Valentine's Day.

It should be "Saints Valentine Day."

That's because the day traditionally celebrates not one but TWO early Christian martyrs named Valentine.

The first is St. Valentine of Terni was persecuted by the Emperor Aurelius and died in 197.

The second St. Valentine of Rome is my favorite. He died in 269, and his relics (at least some of them) ended up at the Carmelite Church on White Friars Street in Dublin, Ireland. It's the Irish connection I like.

Anyway, there are NINE other Saints Valentine. But, their feast days come later in the year, I guess.

History and grammar lessons over. Enjoy your VD, and spread it around. (Disgusting pun intended.)