Valley Girl Views: Valentines Day In The Valley Through The Decades, From Local Newspapers

Valentines Day Histories, Superstitions, Traditions, and Advertisements
Taken from old newspapers in the Central Susquehanna Valley

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In 1892 the Lewisburg Journal published an article about the origin of Valentines Day, and the later "follies and superstitions of this day".

It states the holiday evolved from the Roman Saturnalia - a festival sacred to Juno and Pan, at which the names of a number of young women were put in a box, from which they were drawn by men, as chance directed. This occurred about the same time in February as good Bishop's day - "with the desire of the fathers of the early Christian Church to Christianize these pagan festivals. In order to do so, the Lupercalia became St Valentines Festival., and from it have come all of the other follies and superstitions of this holiday.

Follies & Superstitions:

The first unmarried man a girl meets on St Valentines Day morning is decreed to be her future husband
"A superstition which might be very popular if it were widely known gives a bachelor the right to kiss the first girl they see on the Saint's morning."
The Lupercalia practice of drawing names was in vogue as late as the 18th century in England, Scotland and other Northern European countries.
Superstition - if a maid looked through a window and spotted a hen and cock walking together, the girl would marry before the end of the year.
A young woman would pin 5 bay leaves to her pillow - one at each corner and one in the middle - so that she might dream of her future Lord. [Connoisseur, 1754]

"Modern custom confines its celebration to the voluntary sending of gifts. Flowers, candies, books, jewelry, cards, fans, jeweled garters, glove cases, jewel casket, any and everything that a love may send his betrothed are acceptable on this festival, if they only bear the magi phrase "Thou Art My Valentine" " - Lewisburg Journal, 1892

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The Williamsport Gazette, 1929

FEBRUARY 14, 1929.
ST. VALENTINE'S DAY.

ALTHOUGH there were St. Valentines the number of a half dozen or more, February 14 is recorded as the date of martyrdom of one of them, the popular form of Celebration of St Valentine's day has nothing to do with St. Valentine or any other saint

Instead, St. Valentine's day is an the Roman feast of Lupercalia, which happened to coincide in date with the aforesaid martyrdom.

Through this coincidence, as in other cases of carelessness in the course, of the saint's name became attached to subsequent celebration of what was known as - lottery of love.

In sending Valentines on this day, we recalling the practice of the Romans in that hazard, in which the written names of women were drawn by lot, each by or some young man; and those thus mated by chance were to be sweethearts to one another for the year that followed, after which another St. Valentine's day would, bring another drawing.

Williamsporters will observe the day with the same gentle ritual that has persisted through the centuries, and suitors will plead their cause with love messages.

What matters it whether the messenger is a lacy fabric of the style which favor in the last century, a bouquet of flowers, a telegraph message or a big heart- shaped box of candy?

The one feature of St. Valentine's which seems to have languished is the circulation of impish cartoons and doggerels which assailed the personal failings of friends or acquaintances. These so-called "comics" were positively vulgar and in no wise in harmony with the spirit of the occasion. Just how they came to attach themselves to a day dedicated to messages compliment and affection is not known. fact that they no longer find favor is a good augury.

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A Valentine Sent To Reading PA, in 1904

Advertisement for Valentines at Evans Book Store

The Lewisburg Journal, 1904

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1953

In 1920, The Miltonian declared that Paper Valentines were out. "No self-respecting swain will nowadays send a paper valentine to the object of his affections; instead,, he hies to the florist and selects flowers, generally of variety he knows will please the fair lady and his sentiment is embodied in the flowers rather than in hackneyed phrases"

The article then went on to helpfully list the meanings of each of the flowers available in February.

"With the passing of time the paper article has given away to the floral valentine, and St. Valentine's day recognized as a. floral, festival.. No self-respecting swain will nowadays send a paper valentine to the object of his affections; instead,, he hies to the florist and selects flowers, generally of variety he knows will please the fair lady and his sentiment is embodied in the flowers rather than in hackneyed phrases, and, generally, especially if his affections are centered upon, one object, his card is boldly enclosed with the flowers he. takes no chance upon the possibility of his gift being credited to someone else, perhaps a rival.

Red is considered to be the; real valentine color, the heart tint, supposedly expressive of fervor. Consequently roses, carnations, sweet peas and tulips in: the red shades, flowers commonly available at this season, are in great demand on St. Valentine's Day. Violets, symbolic of lover pansies to convey the message "Think of me," and the humble forget-me-not, significant of true love, are other favorites.

The symbolic meanings of the flowers available in February are to be found in the following list.

Dark red rose Admiration.

White Rose I am worthy of you.

Yellow Rose Let us forget.

Moss Confession of love.

Carnation, pink Woman's love. Red Ardent love. Variegated Refusal. White Fascination. Snapdragon Presumption.

Calendula Cruelty in love.

Daisy Innocence.

Forget-me-not True love.

Gardenia Refinement.

Hyacinth, white Modest loveliness; blue Conspiracy; purple jealousy.

Iris My compliments.