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Valentine
History of Valentine
If we look back in history to the time of the Romans, we discover that the
goddess Juno was honoured on that day. Since Juno was believed to be the advisor
in matters of choosing a partner, February the 14th was the day when a man would
draw a card having the name of the woman he would be nice to for the next year.
After the introduction of Christianity, many of these heathen holidays were
transformed into Christian celebrations. Juno’s special day was changed from
drawing lots for love to drawing lots for the choice of a saint that would have
to be honoured during the following year. Even so, boys still draw lots at
Valentine’s parties to select their Valentine girl and then shower her with
flowers, chocolates and cards. Naturally, the boy can also choose his own
Valentine to show her she is someone very special!
And for those who don’t believe this story, there’s yet another alternative!
That’s because there is also a Saint Valentine whose saint’s day falls on the
day previously meant to honour Juno. Valentine, a bishop in a city near Rome,
became a Christian martyr in the year 296. Saint Valentine was known to be a
friendly, helpful person. Young people in particular came to him with their love
problems. After these discussions, which often took place during a stroll
through a garden, Valentine would give the young person a flower to take along
for good luck. Valentine was declared a saint in the fourteenth century when his
saint’s day was made 14 February: Valentine’s Day.
Fragrant Valentine Cousin
Hyacinthus ‘Anna Marie’, one of the most fragrant pink hyacinths makes this
cousin a welcome fragrant surprise. The hart, shaped of metal wire, is decorated
with small red pearls to give the ultimate Valentine feeling.
The cousin is edged with Tree fern leaves which can be cut in any model. The
cousin is made in oases in a glass bowl. The steel-grass bended in square shapes
makes the pillow come alive.
Valentine Window
In February the houseplants usually start to look a little poor. The heating
in the house is not helping the plants to stay in perfect health. Why not give
the plants a rest in a room where temperatures stay a little cooler to take a
little breath and rest, to use your window as a Valentine display.
Gather all the red vases, bottles and anything else what can be used to keep
water. Use some ropes, ribbons and red branches to give extra red detail. The
big flowers of Tulipa ‘Rococo’ will do the rest of the performing work as soon
as they start to open the flowers. ‘Rococo’ is a member of the Parrot group of
tulips. Real tulips fans are not used yet to this particular shaped flower. Not
strange as they do not look alike the traditional egg-shaped flowers of tulips.
In the vase parrot tulips perform very beautiful. They open up completely as
upside-down umbrellas. They have a long vase life because even when they are
slightly over the top they are still beautiful. They will bend all over the
place when the early February sunlight is peeping through the window.
