It would seem that what could be simpler than a valentine - greeting card in honor of St. Valentine, the heavenly patron of all lovers? But don't rush to conclusions. In the Middle Ages, talented craftsmen, calligraphers and court jewelers worked tirelessly to create real masterpieces of art - books and songbooks in the shape of a heart, which were designed to delight the hearts of Beautiful Ladies - beloved kings and distinguished persons of that time. Here are just some of the masterpieces that have survived to this day...
Blair's Book of Hours is a collection of prayers created in 1053 by master Nicolas Blair. The heart in the Middle Ages was considered a symbol of Christ's divine love for humanity, a sign of his self-sacrifice.
In turn, the open Holy Scripture in the shape of a heart symbolized that the heart of a praying person is always open to God. It took many centuries for the symbol of the heart to acquire secular meaning, becoming the international sign of all lovers.
Book of Hours. Unknown French master of the 15th century.
"The Book of the Heart" of the Danish King. This songbook, which contains the texts of 83 love ballads, was created in the early 1550s by order of the Danish king Christian III.
From that moment on, the compilation of such handwritten songbooks with the texts of ballads of traveling musicians and poets became fashionable among European noble youth. ballads.
On one of the pages of the “Book of the Heart” of the Danish king, one of the readers of the book (perhaps the king himself?) wrote his wish: “May the Lord end my torment and lead them to good and happy ending, Amen!"
Princess Anne's Prayer Book Another Danish heart-shaped book is that of Princess Anne, daughter of Christian III. The book was created in 1580, five years before Anna's death from the plague. The wonderful leather binding with gold decorations was made by the jeweler Kaspar Moiser.
Anna was interested in knowledge, was fond of medicine and herbal medicine, and collected beautiful illustrated books.
“The Songbook of Jean de Monchenu” is the most famous “heartfelt” manuscript songbook in history, created in 1475 by master Jean de Monchenu especially for Matteo Bandello, bishop of the French city of Agen, in Aquitaine.
By the way, Bishop Bandello was a very noticeable figure of the early Renaissance: he collected poems and songs, and wrote short stories himself (and the plot of his short story about teenagers in love from the Italian city of Verona was borrowed by Shakespeare himself for his tragedy).
In the songbook, Bishop Bandello collected works by outstanding composers of that era - Dufay, Ockeghem and others. To whom Bishop Agen gave this book - these details have remained a mystery to history.
"An unknown young man praying to Saint Gudule." Saint Gudula is the patron saint of Brussels, famous for her piety in the 8th century (this painting by an unknown artist dates back to the 15th century). Pay attention to the “heartfelt” book of hours in the hands of the young man.
The oldest “Valentine” card that has survived to this day was written back in 1415. It came from the pen of Charles, Duke of Orleans, and is now kept in the British Museum. Anyone can look at it: a fairly dirty piece of paper with a few scribbled words - a love letter from the Duke to his wife.
Such an unpresentable appearance is easily explained: the Duke was writing a note from the Tower, the most famous British prison. And the main thing in this message is not the form, but the content...
Later, love messages for February 14 began to be decorated in every possible way by lovers, and even later they were made for sale.
At first it was completely handmade: craftswomen glued ribbons, lace, pearls, drew cupids and hearts and calligraphed love poems. These valentines were very expensive, but they sold out with a bang.
Before Valentine's Day, Victorian cards were even ordered from Australia: valentines were transported there by ship from England.
In the second half of the 19th century, industrial production of Valentine's Day cards began. At first these were black and white photographs and hand-colored pictures.
Then we learned to print color postcards. Images of children and cupids were very popular:
... I wonder how the first Valentine came about? And what were Valentines like before? Let's try to look into history to answer this question.
European history of valentines
The Valentine's Day is over sixteen centuries old. And its main “culprit” was the priest Valentin, who lived in 269 in the city of Terni. At that time, the Roman Empire was ruled by Claudius II, who always lacked bachelor soldiers to replenish his legions. The emperor was firmly convinced that married soldiers fought poorly, so he issued a decree prohibiting legionnaires from marrying. Apparently, Valentin was an incorrigible romantic, for he disobeyed the emperor and secretly married soldiers to their lovers. Upon learning of this, Claudius became angry and sentenced the priest to death.
This is where one of the first versions of the history of the appearance of Valentine begins. While sitting in prison awaiting execution, Valentin fell in love with the warden's daughter. The girl was blind from birth. Valentin managed to heal her illness. His beloved received her sight. The day before the execution, Valentin wrote a touching letter to the girl, in which he confessed his feelings to her and said goodbye forever. The message ended with the words “From your Valentine” - “Your Valentine.” This letter was read only after the execution of the priest. Subsequently, Valentin was canonized as a Christian martyr who suffered for the faith. This happened on February 14, 496. Since then, Valentine's Day has become a holiday for all lovers.
There is another legend that says that the first creator of valentines in 1415 was the Duke of Orleans. But back then they were called love poetic messages. Imprisoned in the Tower, Duke Charles sent romantic love letters to his wife, who was then in France.
Well, the third version, related to the story of Valentine’s card, is documented. A Valentine card dated 1477 was purchased by the British Library from one family back in the thirties, then this historical document gathered dust in the archive for a long time. Recently, that ancient valentine was discovered by a young library employee. In it, a young British girl wrote an ardent message to her lover, in which she demanded proof of reciprocal feelings and desire to marry her. In the letter, the girl even promised the guy that she would get from her mother a significant increase in the dowry, if only the unity of the beloved couple would take place. Whether the young man was so mercantile that he did not want to marry a girl with a small dowry, whether he loved the young lady, and how this story ended is unknown.
It's hard to say which version is the most reliable, but I like all three. Be that as it may, valentines were created for a reason.
How to decorate valentines
In the fifteenth century, valentines were depicted in the form of drawings, which necessarily included knights, beautiful ladies and cupids with arrows piercing brave knightly hearts.
In the seventeenth century, everyone tried to make their own, unique Valentine, which included poems about love and unearthly passion.
By the middle of the 18th century, the almanac "Poor Robin" published poems, the essence of which reveals the British attitude to the holiday of all lovers: when the sun enters the constellation Pisces, the arrival of St. Valentine's Day is expected. At this time, the guy gives the girl he likes a pair of gloves. The gift must be accompanied by a passionate kiss. If a girl answers that she is not against marriage, but she needs to consult with her mother, then she likes the guy.
By the beginning of the nineteenth century, the first, still rather primitive, commercial valentines began to appear. Only in the forties did love letters become exquisite, made of very expensive paper, decorated with satin, lace, and ribbons. At the same time, mechanical valentines appeared, in the form of moving figures on postcards, that is, the first three-dimensional images of passionate feelings.
The emergence of the American Valentine
The American history of Valentine's Day began after 1723. This is due to the fact that a large number of booklets with messages and poems dedicated to lovers began to be delivered from England to the United States. The lovers began to copy such messages onto sheets of paper with gold edges. Valentines cards began to be decorated less, because the main thing was hidden in the content of the card.
In the nineteenth century, the American artist Charles Howard began to paint the so-called “cheap boulevard” - “penny dreadfuls” on valentines. These were comic postcards with a terrifying design, they were sold for mere pennies.
The first valentines made in the United States were designed in the 1930s by the daughter of a Worcestershire bookseller, Esther Howland. The then student went to England, brought back lace and beautiful paper and became the author and manufacturer of her own valentines, which were an absolute commercial success.
Modern Valentines
Modern valentines, having gone a long way from sentimentality to the avant-garde, have become a necessary addition to gifts given for Valentine's Day. And they can be on a wide variety of media.
Exquisite lace Valentine cookies, created by your beloved girl, will not leave any guy indifferent.
Valentine's baskets made of puff pastry filled with raspberries will be a unique addition to a romantic dinner.
And who wouldn’t want to have breakfast with a valentine like this? And which man on Valentine’s Day can reproach his wife with the words: “Scrambled eggs again”? After all, this work of art is a morning gastronomic confirmation of a declaration of love.
Moreover, if your beloved serves breakfast in “crystal” slippers...
... or in a Valentine’s T-shirt, then even without further words it will become clear to a man: Valentine’s Day has arrived, it’s time to confess the sincerity of feelings.
The funniest valentines
Valentines can be not only delicious, but also very interesting, funny, funny.
Valentine kittens in love are an amazing living home decoration. And piglets know how to love in their own wonderful way.
Just imagine the picture: early morning. Does your loved one go out onto the balcony and see the valentine pool you built overnight? Do you need any additional declarations of love?
After all, even a stump on that bright day can tell a lot about the romantic feelings that occurred back in those distant times when he was a young tree.
Valentine cards can be very diverse. The most important thing about valentines is that they are the most effective way for lovers to tell about their feelings for the first time, to confess their love in an unusually beautiful poetic and romantic form. Don't forget to wish your loved ones a Happy Valentine's Day!
Here I have posted several examples of stories of the origin of the Valentine's Day holiday on English language with translations.
Saint Valentine's Day History
We celebrate Valentine’s Day every February 14th.
The story of Valentine’s Day begins in the third century with an oppressive Roman emperor Claudius II and a humble Christian priest Valentine.
Claudius declared it offensive for young men to marry. He saw the king wanted them to be solders in faraway lands. He thought that if the young men were married would worry about their families back home and so wouldn’t make very good warriors. Valentine disobeyed the king and secretly married many young couples.
When Claudius found out about it he sent Valentine to prison.
According to legend, during his imprisonment, Saint Valentine healed the daughter of his jailer, Julia. Before his execution The bishop passed her a note signed “From your Valentine” as a farewell.
This story has become into the defining tradition of Valentine’s Day.
On each February 14, Saint Valentine’s Day, messages of affection and devotion are exchanged around the world. An estimated one billion cards sent each year, making it the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas.
Translation
The history of Valentine's Day dates back to the third century, during the time of the cruel Roman Emperor Claudius II and the humble Christian priest Valentine.
Claudius forbade young men to marry.
Valentine understood that the king needed soldiers fighting in overseas countries.
The emperor believed that he would not have good warriors if young people were married, because then they would worry about their families left in their homeland.
Valentine disobeyed the king and secretly performed the wedding ceremony of many young couples.
When Claudius found out about this, he sent Valentine to prison.
According to legend, during his imprisonment, Saint Valentine healed the jailer's daughter, Julia. Before his execution, the priest gave her a farewell note signed “From your Valentine.”
This story gave rise to the tradition of Valentine's Day.
Every February 14th, Valentine's Day, people all over the world give each other signs of attention and devotion. It is estimated that one billion Valentine's cards are sent each year, making it the second largest holiday after Christmas.
According to a Roman legend, during the third century, a man named Valentinus was imprisoned for his Christian beliefs and sentenced to death by execution. While jailed, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer’s blind daughter. The night before Valentinus was sentenced to execution, he wrote a note to the jailer’s daughter saying, “From Your Valentine.” Valentinus was executed on Feb. 14, 269 A.D.
Translation
According to Roman legend, in the third century, a man named Valentine was imprisoned for his Christian beliefs and sentenced to death. In prison, Valentin healed the guard's blind daughter. The night before the execution, the priest wrote a note to this girl: “From your Valentine.” Valentine was executed on February 14, 269.
Legends say that Valentinus was killed for trying to help persecuted Christians escape Roman prisons.
Translation
History tells us that Valentine was killed for trying to help persecuted Christians escape from Roman prisons.
This story claims that Valentine was a priest in third-century Rome. Claudius II (Known as Claudius Gothicus, was a Roman emperor from 268 AD to 270 AD) thought single men made better soldiers. Naturally the emperor outlawed young men from marrying. Valentine is accused against this order and kept performing marriages. Claudius soon had him executed for going against his commands.
Translation
This story claims that Valentine was a priest in third century Rome. Claudius II, known as Claudius Gothicus, was the Roman Emperor from 268 AD. to 270 AD, believed that non-family youths would make the best soldiers. Thus, he prohibited young people from getting married. Valentin opposed this order and continued to perform marriages. Soon Claudius executed him because the priest disobeyed him.
In the fifth-century, legends have said that Romans honored Juno (The pagan goddess of love and marriage). On February 14, a man would pick a woman’s name out from a box and later court her for marriage. Around the time frame of 498 A.D., Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as the official St. Valentine’s Day to honor the martyr Valentine and to ultimately end the pagan celebration of Juno.
Translation
Legends say that in the fifth century, the Romans revered Juno, the pagan goddess of love and marriage. On February 14, the young man chose the girl’s name from the box, then walked her down the aisle. Around 498 AD, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as official Saint Valentine's Day to honor the memory of the martyr Valentine and ultimately end the pagan celebration of Juno.
Story of Saint Valentine and St. Valentine’s Day The day is named after Bishop Valentine, who was alive in ancient Rome. He betrayed the Emperor by conducting illegal weddings for couples in the name of love. He was arrested and fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. Before he was executed, he gave a note to his love saying “From your Valentine”, which founded the whole meaning of the current celebration.
Translation
The history of St. Valentine and the name of the Valentine's Day holiday went in honor of Bishop Valentine, who lived in Ancient Rome. He disobeyed the Emperor by performing secret wedding ceremonies for couples in the name of love. He was arrested and in love with the guard's daughter. Before he was executed, he gave a note to his love that said: "From your Valentine." This note gave rise to this holiday.
The holiday of all lovers is approaching - Valentine's Day. This is a romantic and very popular holiday abroad, which is celebrated on February 14th.
On this day, lovers around the world give each other heart cards, chocolates and flowers.
The history of this holiday is shrouded in mystery. There are several legends about this, and one of them tells about Saint Valentine -bishop who lived in the 3rd century AD. e., who secretly married lovers in defiance of the prohibitions of the Roman emperor.
He paid for this with his life, however, his name remained for centuries and became a symbol of this holiday.
I suggest listening to this legend in English and/or reading the text, as well as doing the exercise.
Below you will find the text of the video and its translation. You can read the text and then watch the video, or read and listen at the same time. The highlighted words are given in the table below the text. And the most interesting expressions from the text can be practiced with the help of an exercise!
Saint Valentine was a bishop who lived in the third century in Rome. During his lifetime the Roman Empire was crumbling down under the attacks of the surrounding tribes. Emperor Claudius II, who ruled during the chaos, believed that marriage made soldiers weak. He issued an edict that forbade marriage to ensure the quality of his soldiers.
The ban on marriage was a great shock. The kind bishop noticed the injustice of the decree. He held the law of the church and helped lovers who came to him uniting them in a holy matrimony.
But it was only a matter of time before the Emperor heard about this “friend of lovers” and had him arrested. Valentine was imprisoned.
While waiting for him sentence his jailer Asterius approached him to use his saintly power, and heal his blind daughter. Valentine succeeded and her sight was restored. They became close and fell in love.
After a while the Emperor issued a verdict. Valentine was asked to agree with the Emperor about the ban on marriage thus giving up his religion Valentine refused.
Just before his execution Valentine asked for a pen and paper and signed a farewell message to his lover “from your Valentine”; a phrase that lived ever after.
Saint Valentine was a bishop who lived in third century Rome. During his time, the Roman Empire was disintegrating under the blows of surrounding tribes. Emperor Claudius 2nd, who ruled in those times full of chaos, believed that marriage makes soldiers weak. He issued a decree that prohibited marriage in order to ensure the quality of his army.
The marriage ban came as a great shock. The good bishop considered the decree unfair. He respected the laws of the church and helped lovers who came to him, uniting them in sacred marriage.
It was only a matter of time that the emperor would find out about this “friend of lovers” and arrest him. Valentine was imprisoned.
While Valentin was waiting for his verdict, he was approached by his Jailer - Asterius, who asked him to use holy power to heal his blind daughter. Valentin succeeded and her vision was restored. They became close and fell in love with each other.
After some time, the emperor delivered his verdict. Valentine had to agree to the imperial ban on marriage, thus renouncing his faith. Valentin refused.
Before his execution, Valentine asked for pen and paper and wrote a farewell letter to his beloved, signing "from your Valentine"; and this phrase has remained for centuries.
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a bishop |
bishop |
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to crumble down |
disintegrate, crumble |
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surrounding tribes |
Lupercus or Faun - god of the fields, protector of herds
Valentine's Day, valentines... Valentine's Day. Everyone knows about Saint Valentine, who helped lovers unite and secretly married them. However, few people know that this day became special back in the 5th century AD and this holiday originated in Rome.
It was then that the Catholic Church decided to fight widespread pagan rituals and used the martyrdom of one of its saints to do this.
But let's start from the beginning. Already from the middle of the 4th century BC, there was a custom in the Roman Empire dedicated to the pagan god Lupercus (or Faun). This is the god of voluptuousness, half man, half goat. The 14th of February In honor of this god, young people took part in an annual ceremony.
The names of young girls were dropped into a box, and then the young men pulled them out, thus choosing a partner for joint pleasures for the entire year. The next year everything happened again. The Christian Church has decided to put an end to this 800-year-old tradition. Church officials chose the saint to patronize lovers, replacing the god Lupercos. The choice fell on Bishop Valentine, who had been tortured to death approximately 200 years earlier. Then, in 270 AD, in the same Rome, Valentine angered Emperor Cladius II by secretly marrying the lovers. Cladius forbade marriages, because when Romans got married they became bad soldiers. And so, by order of the emperor, on February 24, 270 AD, Valentine was stoned and then beheaded.
And in 496, Pope Gelasius declared illegal a holiday in honor of the pagan god Lupercos, and instead, Valentine's Day was introduced, named after St. Valentine. From that time on, he became the spiritual patron of all lovers.
Quotes about love (in English with translation) - Love Quotes:
If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. And if they don’t, they never were. (Kahlil Gibran)
You don’t love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her. (Anonymous)
Love is much like a wild rose, beautiful and calm, but willing to draw blood in its defense. (Mark Overby)
If you judge people, you have no time to love them. (Mother Teresa)
Happiness is the China shop; love is the bull. (H. L. Mencken)
Valentines cards (in English):
Simple Valentine:
To you with love from me.
Special Valentine:
Here is a special valentine
with lots of love for you.
And since you are very special
Here are kisses, too.
Valentine for the year:
Not only when it's St. Valentine's Day
But always, all year through
You are thought about with words of love
and wished much gladness, too!
Ironic Valentine:
Here is the key to my heart
Use it before I change the lock.
Valentine's card from the Beatles:
Love, love me do
You know I love you
I'll always be true
So please, love me do.