Valentine’s Day By: Kelsea WIlliams

Who’s cupid? Cupid is a winged child whose arrows are known for piercing the hearts of victims causing them to fall deeply in love. As well as himself. Cupid fell in love with a mortal maiden named Psyche. Cupid married Psyche, but Venus, his mother jealous of Psyche's beauty, so he told her to never look at him. He only visited her at night so she couldn’t see him. Psyche’s sisters convinced her to look at him so she lit a lamp to see him and Cupid then left her. Psyche then searched him, and came upon the temple of Venus. Venus was determined to kill her so she gave her 3 task to complete

Where it came from? Valentine’s Day originally was called St. Valentine’s day. It was a celebration of the early Christian saints called Valentinus. This day was first associated with Roman love. Roman Lupercalia was a festival held during the middle of February. This ceremony consisted of girls putting there names in boxes and boys would draw there names. They would then pair off until the following year By the 15 th century it had turned into an occasion where lovers express there love for one another, with a gift such as flowers, chocolates, and/or cards.

Why we celebrate it? Valentine, a man who refused to listen to the emperors rules, helped couples marry at a young age in private until he was captured. He was then imprisoned. He took it upon himself to convert the Emperor hoping to reverse this decree. The Emperor then sentenced him to death. He met the daughter of the jailer while he was there. She was blind. With faith and prayers Valentine cured the girl of her affliction. His supporters left flowers on his jail window to show their love for him. Valentine was executed on February 14, 270. Before he died he wrote a letter to the girl reading “ from your Valentine”.

Do other countries celebrate Valentine’s Day? In Germany, they celebrate with cards, pink and red roses, big ginger cookies with a saying on them written in icing, and a pig statue offering flowers. The pig is stands for luck. In Japan and Korea, this holiday is celebrated for women to give chocolates or flowers to someone they like. In Italy, they celebrate this holiday as a Spring festival and they exchange gifts. In China, this holiday is celebrated on the 7 th day of the 7 th lunar month on the Chinese calendar. Couples visit the “Temple of Matchmaker” to pray for happiness and marriage.