Dana Vaccaro, features editor
Valentine's Day brings love to all
Valentine's Day fun facts
* Approximately 1 billion valentine cards are sent each
year; 2.6 billion are sent at Christmas
* In order of popularity, Valentine's Day cards are
given to: teachers, children, mothers, wives and sweet
hearts.
* 75 percent of all Americans exchange Valentine's
Day cards. Valentine's Day is the second most popu
lar day for men to buy cards (Mother's Day is No. 1).
* 15 percent of all U.S. women send themselves flow
ers.
* 3 percent of pet owners give their pets valentine
cards and gifts.
* Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on
the telephone, an "Improvement in Telegraphy," on
Valentine's Day 1876.
* Hallmark has more than 1300 different cards spe
cifically for Valentine's Day.
* Wearing a wedding ring on the fourth finger of the
left hand dates back to ancient Egypt, where it was
believed that the vein of love ran from this finger di
rectly to the 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 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
that 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 millionaire.
* Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might
marry. As you twist the stem of an apple, recite the
names until the stem comes off. You will marry the
person whose name you were saying when the stem
fell off.
* In Wales, wooden love spoons were carved and
given as gifts. on Feb. 14. Hearts, keys and keyholes
were favorite decorations on the spoons. The decora
tion meant "You unlock my heart."
* A love seat is a wide chair. It was first made to seat
one woman and her wide
dress. Later, the love seat,
or courting seat, had two
de
•yr sections, often in an
shape. In this way a
dr.
couple could sit together
- but not too closely!
* Historians claim that
we hi
poem sent in 1415 by
Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife. He was im
prisoned in the Tower of London at the time.
* In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given
credit for sending the first Valentine's Day card. Com
mercial valentines were introduced in the 1880 s and
now the day is very commercialized.
* Richard Cadbury invented the first Valentine's Day
candy box in the late 1800 s.
* In Japan, Valentine's Day is a day when women give
the special men in their lives boxes of chocolate. To
balance the practice, White Day was invented by the
confectionary industry for men to reciprocate such
gifts. White Day, celebrated one month later on March
14, is purely a Japanese creation.
* The Chocolate Manufacturer's Association of
America says that 36 million boxes of chocolate are
sold for Valentine's Day.
* Valentine's Day means chocolate and lots of it. Ac
cording to U.S. candy manufacturers, Americans
spend more than $1.105 million each Valentine's Day
on candy.
*ln the United States, 64 percent of men do not make
plans in advance for a romantic Valentine's Day with
their sweethearts.
the first valentine was a
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Friday, February 13, 2004
The birth of Cupid
According to Roman mythology, Cupid was the
son of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Cu
lt id was known to cause people to fall in love by
shooting them with his magical arrows. But Cupid
didn't just cause others to fall in love - he himself
fell deeply in love.
As legend has it, Cupid fell in love With a maul
aiden named Psyche. Cupid married Psyche, but
Venus, jealous of Psyche's beauty, forbade her
daughter-in-law to look at Cupid. Psyche, of course,
couldn't resist temptation and sne4ed a peek at her
andsome husband. As punishment, Venus de
manded that she perform three hard vigkg, the cast
of which caused Psyche's death.
Cupid brought Psyche back to life and the gods,
moved by their love, granted Pysche mart
Cupid thus represents the heart and Psyche the
(struggles of the) human soul.
Top Romantic U.S. Get Aways
10. Napa Valley, Calif.
9. Martha's Vine
yard, Mass.
8. Lake Tahoe, NV.
7. Aspen, Colo.
6. New Orleans
5. Las Vegas
4. Miami
3. San Francisco
2. New York City
1. Islands of Hawaii
"Love is composed of a single soul
inhabiting two bodies."
Top Romance Sellers
"Murphy's Romance"
"Marilyn Monroe: The Diamond Collection
10
9
Box Set"
"The Truth About Cats and Dogs"
"Don Juan de Marco"
"Joe Versus the Volcano"
"One Crazy Summer"
"My Best Friend's Wedding"
"Benny & Joon"
"Groundhog Day"
"The Princess Bride"
The history of Valentine's Day
The origins of Valentine's Day trace back to the an
cient Roman celebration of Lupercalia. Held on Feb.
15, Lupercalia honored the gods Lupenats atutus,
as well as the legendary founders of Rome Romulus
and Remus.
In addition to a bountiful feast, Lupnettliabillitit
ties are purported to have includedthe Pan" ,44)11,111,0011.. ,
women and men. Men would draw woriniSe
from a box, and each couple would he Piikitti
next year's celebration.
While this pairing of couples set the whet
holiday, it wasn't called "Valentine's Day" ;
named Valentine came along. Valentine, a
at heart, disobeyed Emperor Claudius IFs
soldiers remain bachelors. Claudius handed tkAititithis,
decree believing that soldiers would be ilistrautSaud
unable to concentrate on fighting if 'they were:Mai,
ried or engaged. Valentine defied the
secretly performed marriage ceremonies. -• °
of his defiance, Valentine was put to death
'l4.
After Valentine's death, he was named a salute As
Christianity spread through Rome, the priests no wed
Lupercalia from Feb. 15 to Feb. 14 and tenamedit
Valentine's Day to honor Valentine.
Sources:
http://movies.yahoo.com/
shop?d=vb&cf=browse&id=lBoooooos7;
http://travel.yahoo.com/romantic;
www.holiday-central.net/valentines_day_fun_facts.asp;
http://pages.ivillage.com/foxyfieart2/F'unFacts.htrnl;
http://holidays.lovingyou.com/valentine/;
http://launch.yahoo.condlaunchcast/stations/station.asp?i=ss9;
www.necco.com/;
www.care2.com/gates/holidays/valentines valentines.html;
http://mydearvalentine.dgreetings.com/valentine/idea-tips
index.html.
--Mstotk
Valentine's Day ideas
* Leave a small note saying "I LOVE YOU" beside his/her
pillow to make his/her day begin with some romance in
the air
* Prepare a Valentine cake in the shape of heart.
* Take him/her out for a long romantic drive.
* Send bouquet of roses with a love note.
* Leave a small gift hidden in some corner of home with
clues to its whereabouts.
* Don't buy a card, rather make it yourself.
* Go dancing together.
* Buy a nice set of lingerie/briefs.
* Write a sincere, wonderful love letter.
* Give her/him a nice sensuous massage.
* Kiss and hug your him/her often.
* List down 25 things that you like about your sweetheart
and 50 things that you don't like. (Count yourself lucky if
the second list does not exceed 10, but kick yourself in the
@#ss if you manage to list 50).
* Confess your love.
* Sketch something for your sweetie pie.
* Cook a special dish (If it's your first attempt, keep those
antacids handy).
* Just take time out to express your feelings, thoughts, fears
and even fantasies to him/her.
* Take a long walk holding each other's hands.
* Brush or comb her/his hair.
* Read out romantic/erotic poetry to your valentine.
* Start saving for a special holiday fund for the two of you
* Make New Year resolutions together (though it's kinda
late for that) and try to follow them.
* Exchange a list containing each other's likes and dislikes.
* Visit a place where you've always wanted to go, but never
got the chance.
* Have video game competitions at the arcades.
* And finally, whatever you do, just let your hair and your
defenses down, and enjoy each other's company.
A to Z passion play
Apply massage oil to your lover's back while giving a
snafu* massage. a
Bring a single red rose to trace down yourpartnezfs badly
on your next sensual encounter.
Cuddle often.
Dance seductively under the moonlight.
Engage in a loving embrace.
Flirt with each other across a filled room.
Grab your lover's bottom the next time they walk by.
Have a bubble bath ready when your lover comes fume.
Ignite each other's flame by carrying out each other's
fantasy.
Joke with each other often.
Kill time by kissing.
Lust as well as love each other.
Make love outside.
Nudity can be fun, especially while swimming!
Open up to each other and play truth or dare.
Play, play, play!
Quietly sneak up on your partner and pounce on them.
Surprise your lover with the best sensual gift: you in the
nude with a big bow!
Take your time during foreplay.
Understand that each of you are different and enjoy dif
ferent things.
Venture into unknown territory by reading up on a new
lovemaking technique then practice it tonight!
Wash each other in the shower.
Xpress yourself freely in the moment of passion.
Yearn to carress your lover.
Zealous lovers are never lonely!
Top Love Songs
"Crazy For You"
Madonna
"By Your Side"
Sade
"From This Moment On"
Shania Twain
"Yellow"
Coldplay
"Right Here Wait
Richard Marx
"Your Song"
Elton John
"Come Away Wit
Norah Jones
"I Could Fall In L
Selena
"The Lady In Red"
Chris De Burgh
"Save The Best For Last"
Vanessa Williams
, The Behrend Beacon
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