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HUMOR Digest - 13 Feb 1998 to 14 Feb 1998
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 03:20:44 -0500
From: Jim Moore Jr
Subject: Happy Valentine's Day
February 14 is Valentine's Day in the US, and a few other countries. It is loosely based on the Roman lover's festival of Lupercalia. Most people don't know there were actually two Saint Valentines. One was a priest in Rome, another a Bishop in Interamna. Strangely enuff, both were beheaded. In their honor, people everywhere have since been losing their heads on Valentine's Day.
And as if two headless clerics weren't enuff to inspire tons of romance and passion, we throw in this lil' nude cherub named Cupid (Eros to you Greeks) who flies about shooting people in the heart with arrows. I assume that's why red is the primary color of the day -- all that internal bleeding and all.
Cupid was the Roman God of Love who stayed with his wife, the Princess Psyche, only at night. Actually, that's not a bad deal at all if you can swing it guys.
People in England celebrated the holiday beginning in 1446. They would write their names on slips of paper and draw from a vase for a partner. And here we in the US thought we invented wife swapping in the 1960's.
In the 1700's, the custom of pinning these slips of paper to one's sleeve became popular, where it was worn for several days after. Romantics would have you believe that this is where the expression "He wears his heart on his sleeve" comes from, when actually, this was an early attempt to pinpoint and follow-up on any sexually transmitted diseases.
During the 1800's in the US, the custom of exchanging cards adorned with sea shells and seaweed became popular. I guess if you're gonna drown in a sea of sentimentality, you might as well have the appropriate accouterments.
So there ya have it y'all.
May the Headless Horseman bless...
No wait -- wrong headless guy... that's Halloween...
Never mind.
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