The history of Valentines Day is multi-faceted. Ancient Greece honored the marriage of Zeus and Hera mid-February. Ancient Romans had Lupercalia, celebrating fertility at this time, mid-February. Around 500 AD Catholics made February 14th a Feast Day based on Saint Valentine. Historians find three men that could have been the inspiration. But my favorite rendition is that of a priest who performed weddings for those prohibited from marrying. Mainly soldiers who were not allowed to marry because it would distract them from fighting. Soldiers knew him by the ring he wore, one with a cupid on it. This Saint Valentine also reminded Christians, with paper hearts, of their love of God. Chaucer’s romantic poem in the late fourteenth century is credited as the first Valentine’s Day Poem. And then paper cards came into play during the mid-nineteenth century and our modern traditions for the holiday were born.
Whether you celebrate with cards, or gifts of candles and flowers, or favorite foods of chocolates and wines and fancy dinners: know this, this year Valentines Day is also Ash Wednesday. The start of the Lenten Season. Forty days of prayer, charity and fasting that ends on Holy Thursday, three days before Easter. So. Much. Going. On!! Here is a fun fact, while research shows that a habit can be changed in as little as a week or can take as long as one-hundred days, my favorite theory is that it is right around the forty day mark. Forty days is eight weeks, not counting weekends, or six weeks including them. Data has shown day nineteen is the most likely time that someone will give up on their new intention, be it a resolution, goal, new habit, etc. Day nineteen literally being called, “Quitters Day”. A speed bump being smack dab in the middle of the forty days. It all makes perfect sense to me.
So, this year…practice the Art of Self Care and take care of you. Love yourself unconditionally this Valentines Day. Then intentionally choose something you would like to improve, change, add or take away from your daily routine. You have actually, forty-six days until Easter and thirty-four days ’till The Spring Equinox. Keep learning. Continue evolving. Write your own story.
*I discovered this imprint of a heart on a cement sidewalk, while walking to the beach