Saint Valentine's traditions

SAINT VALENTINE'S TRADITIONS

When we two parted In silence and tears
Half broken-hearted to sever for years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold, colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold, sorrow to this.

Lord Byron

Appart from the story of Saint Valentine's Day, you'll probably know there are several traditions related with love. The most common one, at least in our country, is giving a rose to your Valentine; but there are thousands of different traditions that were very popular in the past, and they are still popular today in so many countries. Here you have some examples:

In Wales, wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favourite decortions on the spoons. The decorantions meant: "you unlock my heart!".

In the middle ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their Valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a milionaire.

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	In Wales, wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favourite decortions on the spoons. The decorantions meant: "you unlock my heart!".
In the middle ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their Valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.
	Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a milionaire.