Today we celebrate Valentine’s Day.
The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately 1 billion Valentine cards are send worldwide.
Making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas.
Who was Saint Valentine, after who this day is named?
The first representation of Saint Valentine appeared in the Nuremberg Chronicle in1493.
Alongside the woodcut portrait of Valentine the text states that he was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius II, known as Claudius Gothicus.
Saint Valentine was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome.
Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime.
Emperor Claudius took a liking to this prisoner.
Until Valentine tried to convert the Emperor.
Whereupon this priest was condemned to death.
He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't finish him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate.
It might be that because Saint Valentine was marrying couples that nowadays we connect him to hearts, doves, love notes and Cupid.
Because in the West, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery.
A tradition that was born in the 19th century.
While Saint Valentine was beaten with clubs, was stoned and beheaded, he probably was not imagining that some time later 1 billion Saint Valentine cards would be send around.
Were there any of those 1 billion Valentine cards received at the Fuso Szulc?
Like this one?
There is no mail service at Punta Boca del Salado.
Besides the fact that no woman known would be sending a Valentine card this way.
Life has become too extreme for anyone to associate with it.
It is the life long climbing of a mountain and nearer the top it is too far away from the others.
Out there is hardly anybody.
That’s why no Valentine Card was send.
Although there is a person who fits the criteria.
But she is climbing in another mountain range.
We can only see each other sometimes.
But will never touch.
3 comments:
Happy Valentine's Day, Michel. I am not the girl you speak of, climbing that other mountain. But I do wish you happiness and joy, love even. We all deserve these things. Sometimes they just don't come to us as we would like. Or when.
You might not have a Valentine of your own on this St. Valentine's Day but you are loved by many of your fervent and loyal readers. It is not the romantic love you might like to be feeling, but it is love none the less. So, Happy Valentine's Day, My Love.
P.S. I have to stay anonymous. My husband would not understand. HaHa
Everyone deserves love on Valentines Day, even crazy photographers. :)
Will you be my Valentine?
A loyal and fervent reader!
Post a Comment