Valentine Tradition - How Did It Begin?
My favorite valentines are the ones made by little hands, with pink hearts and gold laced doilies plastered onto red paper, all lumpy with glue.
But how did the valentine tradition begin?
It is believed the first valentine cards were made by children and given to a kind priest in jail.
“No one knows exactly how Valentine’s Day began,” writes Lucille Recht Penner, in her book “Celebration - The Story of American Holidays” (MacMillan, $15.95), “but according to legend, Emperor Claudius II of Rome was having trouble recruiting young soldiers for his army. They preferred to stay at home with their wives.”
So, the emperor decided to outlaw marriage.
A little-known priest named Valentine began helping couples marry in secret. When the emperor discovered these clandestine ceremonies, he threw Valentine in jail.
The children of Rome loved Valentine and wrote him notes, pushing them through the bars of his jail cell. These notes may have been the first valentines.
Years later, Pope Gelasius named Feb. 14 the feast day of Saint Valentine, a day set apart for the expression of love. In America, Valentine’s Day has become an important holiday ever since the Civil War, when soldiers sent thousands of valentines to their wives and sweethearts.
Stories like this throughout “Celebration” help families learn the history of 14 American holidays, written simply and effectively for children as young as 5, accompanied by colorful illustrations by Ib Ohlsson. “Celebration” is available at The Bookseller in Coeur d’Alene and The Children’s Corner Bookshop in Spokane.
Make your own valentine
Two one-day workshops allow children to create their own Valentine’s Day cards. The workshops, offered by the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department, will be at the Corbin Art Center, 507 W. Seventh.
Youngsters ages 3-5 make woven paper hearts while learning the history of Valentine’s Day. The class is Monday, Feb. 12, from 10:30 a.m. to noon (Class No. 1309-20; cost is $7). Children ages 6-13 design five oneof-a-kind valentines and envelopes, using a variety of papers, glitters and trims. The class is Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon (No 1354-20; cost is $9). Thursday is the last day to register for both classes; call 625-6200.
Grandparents raising grandchildren
Second Timers is a support group for grandparents and others who are giving children a second chance.
They meet on Wednesday and again on Feb. 21, 9-10:30 a.m. at 1425 N. Washington in Spokane. Anyone interested is invited to share ideas, resources and encouragement. Child care is provided. For more information, call 747-4174.
Teen Parenting Workshop
Spokane Public Library, 906 W. Main, offers a special two-hour workshop, “Parenting Teens” Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon.
The program features Brigitte Benson of the Parents’ Coalition who will present practical and effective tools for dealing with troubled or difficult teenagers. She will also discuss early warning signs of trouble and focus on prevention.
The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information, call 626-5312.
, DataTimes MEMO: The Family Track is a regular column of notes and information for families. Send items to Lynn Gibson, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax (509) 459-5098.