Newspapers / The daily Tar Heel. / Feb. 12, 1988, edition 1 / Page 7
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Celebrating Valentine's Day is a time-honored tradition The Daily Tar HeelFriday, February 12, 19887 By JO LEE CREOLE Staff Writer . t's that special time when red is in style, candy prices go up and love is in the air. Feb. 14 is just around the corner, and students are preparing for the historical day of roses, kisses, secret love notes, dinners for two and Cupid's arrow. It is difficult to tell exactly where Valentine's Day customs began. The cherub Cupid was the son of Aphro dite, the goddess of love. Greek poe try described Cupid's arrow hitting unsuspecting people and making them fall in love. What about that word "Valen tine?" It's derived from the Latin word "valens," which translates into both "valiant" and "gallant," because the letters "v" and Mg" are interchangeable in Latin speech. If we look at the Norman language, the word "galantin" was often writ ten as "valentan" or "valantin," which meant "lover of the fair sex." The Old English definition of the word "Valentine" reads, "About this time of the year the month of February the birds chose their mates and probably thence came the custom of the young maidens choos ing Valentines or special loving friends on that day." Others say Feb. 14 was just the first hint of spring, and the birds chose their mates at that time. In Shakespeare's time, it was the custom to say, "Good morrow, 'tis St. Valentine's Day." The young lady or young man who said it first upon meeting a person of the oppo site sex was supposed to receive a gift. In Scotland on Valentine's Day, the first person of the opposite sex that one met in the morning was supposed to become one's Valentine for the day. There were actually three St. Val entines associated with Feb. 14. Each of these men died a martyr's death. V One was a Roman priest in the third century, St. Valentinius, who was jailed for "giving aid and com fort," which was a crime under the reign of Emperor Claudius II. More than a year later, Valentinius was taken to Claudius II, where he tried to convert the pagan emperor to Christianity. The emperor was sup posedly so impressed with the pri est's sincerity that he took pity on him and tried to convert him to worship the Roman gods. Valenti nius refused and told Claudius the Roman gods were mortal and full of sin. This refusal was said to have made Claudius II furious. Valenti nius was condemned to be beaten with clubs, stoned and finally beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate. He was buried in what is now the Church of Praxides in Rome. Legend says that while in prison, Valentinius restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter. They became good friends during his year in jail, and the little girl would send him notes and cards through the jail cell. On the eve before his death, it is rumored that Valentinius wrote a farewell message to the little girl and signed it, "From your Valentine." The second St. Valentine was said to have been the Bishop of Inter anna (which is now Terni), who married couples against the Roman Emperor Claudius II's wishes. This St. Valentine was supposedly buried at the same Flaminian Gate where -the other St. Valentine was ; beheaded. Many believe this St. Val entine could have been the same man as Valentinius. The third was also a martyred saint, but much less is known about him than the other two. St. Valentine was martyred on the eve of the Roman feast of Luperca lia, which was a pagan feast cele brating Faunus, the patron god of herding, hunting and husbandry. When Christianity spread through out Rome, this feast was changed to honor the good deeds of Valenti nius, the saint of love. Originally, during the Roman feast the men and women put their names in a box and drew the name of their lover for the next year. But when the Christians came to power the names were substituted with the names of saints, and the people would pay homage to that particular saint for the year. In England, this custom changed back into drawing the names of mere mortals. More often than not, these two young people would eventually marry. The tradition of giving Valentine's fir V- v : A I jjl fK,uV ' : ; i'A'VrW ;w . - v : ,v efr p DTHDavid Minton and Charlotte Cannon Cupid, son of the goddess of love, is one of the oldest Valentine's Day symbols Campus Calendar Friday 6 p.m. Carolina Students Credit Union will hold its first annual meeting in the Union. Check the Union board of the Credit Union office for details. All members are strongly encouraged to attend. 7 p.m. Bahal Club will hold a discussion on the equal ity of men and "women in the Frank Porter Graham Lounge in the Union. Saturday 10 a.m. . Anglican Student Fel lowship will serve its Saturday morning breakfast at Chapel of the Cross. Breakfast is $1. 9 p.m. Carolina Gay and Les bian Association will host a Valentine's Day Dance, "Prom night the way it should have been," in the Ball Room of Carmichael Hall. Admission is $2. Semi formal attire is optional. Sunday 11 a.m. UN C Gaming Club will meet in 210 Union until 5 p.m. for open gaming. Items of Interest Student Government Tutoring Program applications are available in Suite C of the Union or at the Union desk. Deadline is Feb. 19. Study Abroad is now urging students interested in studying abroad to visit their office in the basement of Caldwell Hall. Pro grams are available to Brazil, China, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Scotland, Spain and Russia. Student Part-Time Employment Service of Student Government is an all-volunteer organization pro viding job listings for students interested in part-time jobs. Come by Suite E 217 of the Union for cards dates back to 1850, when Esther Howland made the first fancy card. The cards were posted by hand and folded and sealed with a wax seal, and men left them on ladies' doorsteps. Today, many peo- a man to marry her pie find it easier and more economi- No matter how this holiday cal to send cards than to buy flowr began it is an age-old custom that couples throughout the world have ers, candies or gifts. Because 1988 is a leap year, Val entine's Day could take a peculiar twist. Custom says that on leap year, it is permissable for a woman to ask more info. Intervarsity Christian Fellowship presents "Explode Evangelism," a teaching and training conference this weekend. Friday at 4 p.m. in Hamilton Hall will be "Why Evan gelize"; at 8 p.m. will be "Vizi Vangelism," with John Lotz. Sat urday in Gerrard Hall at 8:45 a.m! will be "Evangelistic Bible Studies," with Pastor Seymour, and at 1 1 :45 a.m. will be "Evangelism as a Lifestyle," with Tom Camacho. enjoyed for centuries. The cards, roses and signs of love are merely signals that this once-a-year holiday is at hand. Remember to watch out ; for Cupid's arrow, notes from your ; Valentine and leap year proposals, ; but don't forget the birds who just may have started this whole thing. SPECIAL ADDED SHOWS AT 1 1 :45 FRI. & SAT! III i i fcl 19 NEW YORK FILM CRITICS' AWARDS FOR BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTRESS, BEST DIRECTOR AND BEST SCREENPLAY ; Yj WILLIAM HURT HOLLY HUNTER ALBERT BROOKS PBlimBCAST m w & a yfZST 2:00 4:30 V 7:00 9:30 UA Great film , . . brilliantly comic; BEAUTIFULLY BITTERSWEET. MASTROIANNI DELIVERS THE PERFORMANCE OF A LIFETIME." mr in; ei. in MHHIIHIIflNNI nun II tl II II LP IS A FILM IW N'IKIIAMlkilAl.kOY 2:00 o 4:30 o 7:00 o 9:30 tltlAL VIEElll ELLIOT ROAD at E. FRANKLIN 967-4737 $2.50UNTL 6 PM DAILY'ALL DAY TUES. (EXC. HOLIDAYS) nun m wcbebiibile, A MUSE-SEE WJLMaY -Iol SlagaL ABC-TV. 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Feb. 12, 1988, edition 1
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