Valentines
Day by: Bud Smith
Ever wondered how February 14 became,
the day on which we celebrate and explore love in all its many ideals,
Valentines Day.
There are many differing opinions
on how Valentines Day started.
One story say that when the Roman
Empire reigned, a festival every February was held in honour of the God
of Fertility and during this time, young men would choose their mate. When
a Emperor named Claudius can around, he outlawed all marriages in fear
that the men would not be able to fight. Young couples still fell in love
though and still wished to marry and they took these desires to the Catholic
Bishop Valentine who, understanding love, began to secretly marry couples.
When Claudius found out, he had Valentine arrested and ordered put to death.
While waiting in jail, Valentine began exchanging letters with the jailers
daughter and soon had fallen in love with her. The day he was to be beheaded,
he wrote her one last note and signed it: From Your Valentine.
Another story points to Christianity
in 496 A.D outlawing the pagan Lupercian Festival and replacing it with
a day in February to honour the martyr St. Valentine.
A third story as to the origin of
passing out cards stems from a French Count who was captured and imprisoned
in London. From his cell he wrote his wife letters, including a passionate
set of poems which he sent to her in February.
At the turn of the century, a new
form of Valentines Day card appeared the Penny Dreadful. Up until this
point, cards were relatively expensive but the Penny Dreadful changed all
that. They were just what the name implied, costing only one cent and completely
bad. The cards were cheaply made, the artwork was amateurish and the colouring
was uneven. On top of that the verses printed on them were not the most
romantic of prose. They were more often insults, taking swipes at old maids,
teachers and the like. Still their low cost kept them popular for years.
For hundreds of years, Valentines
Day has been a day of symbols. You can hardly go through the day without
seeing a rose (as a symbol to Venus, the Goddess of Love), images of doves
and lovebirds (who mate for life) or hearts. The heart was thought to be
the centre of all emotion. People believed that when they gave a heart,
they were truly giving all of the love and emotion that they possibly could
give.
Its past aside, Valentines Day is
the second the most popular card sending holiday just behind Christmas
with one billion a cards sent a year. When the calendar turns to February,
we start to think of love. February has for centuries been designated the
month for lovers, with the primary celebration being on February 14, St.
Valentines Day. We send cards, flowers, and candy and our children give
out Valentines in school. Valentines Day reminds us to tell our loved ones
just how much we care about them.
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Say
"I Love You" For Valentine's Day by: Jeffrey Strain
With Valentine's Day just around
the corner, it's time to start thinking about the perfect gift for the
one you love. Whether you are looking for something special on a tight
budget or would simply like to add something special to another gift, there's
no better way to express your love than by saying it in a variety of languages.
Find a nice jar and cut different
colored paper into heart-shaped pieces. Write "I Love You" in a different
language on each heart and place it in the jar. Continue doing this until
the jar is full. Add a nice ribbon around the jar and you have a wonderful
jar of "Love" to give.
If you want Valentine's Day to last
longer, write each "I Love You" in a different language on a colored, heart-shaped
piece of paper. Then place each heart into a separate envelope. For the
next two months, each day you can place a new envelope somewhere where
your partner will find it making your love - and Valentine's Day - last
a couple of months rather that a single day.
If you are in a more playful mood,
cut out the heart-shaped pieces of paper and write "I Love You" in a different
language along with a hint where your partner can find the next envelope.
Have your partner do a scavenger hunt to find each envelope until they
come to the final piece where "I Love You" is written in English with whatever
Valentine gift you have decided to give.
No matter how you ultimately decide
to give the gift of "I Love You," it'll be a gift long remembered and cherished
by the person who receives it.
***** Different Ways To Say "I Love
You" *****
a) Arabic -- Ana behibak (to male)
b) Arabic -- Ana behibek (to female)
Bavarian -- I mog di narrisch gern
Bengali -- Ami tomake bhalobashi
Brazilian (Portuguese) -- Eu te amo
Bulgarian -- Obicham te
Burmese -- Chit pa de
Cambodian -- Bon sro lanh oon
Chinese (Cantonese) -- Ngo oi ney
Chinese (Mandarin) -- Wo ie ni
Croatian -- Ljubim te
Czech -- Miluji te
Danish -- Jeg elsker dig
Dutch -- Ik hou van jou
Esperanto -- Mi amas vin
Estonian -- Mina armastan sind
Filipino -- Mahal ka ta
Finnish -- Mina rakastan sinua
Flemish -- Ik zie oe geerne
French -- Je t'aime
Gaelic -- Ta gra agam ort
German -- Ich liebe dich
Greek -- S' agapo
a) Hebrew -- Ani ohev otach (to female)
b) Hebrew -- Ani ohev otcha (to male)
Hindi -- Mai tumse pyar karta hoo
Hopi -- Nu' umi unangwa'ta
Hungarian -- Szeretlek
Icelandic -- Eg elska thig
Indonesian -- Saja kasih saudari
Irish -- Taim i' ngra leat
Italian -- Ti amo
Japanese -- Kimi o ai shiteru
Javanese -- Kulo tresno
Korean -- Tangsinul sarang ha yo
Lao -- Koi muk jao
Latin -- Te amo
Latvian -- Es milu tevi
Macedonian -- Sakam te
Malay -- Saya cintamu
Mohawk -- Konoronhkwa
Navaho -- Ayor anosh'ni
Norwegian -- Eg elskar deg
Persian -- Tora dost daram
Polish -- Kocham cie
Portuguese -- Amo-te
Romanian -- Te iubesc
Russian -- Ya vas liubliu
Serbian -- Lubim te
Shona -- Ndinokuda
Sioux -- Techihhila
Slovak -- Lubim ta
Spanish -- Te quiero
Swahili -- Naku penda
Swedish -- Jag a'lskar dig
Tagalog -- Mahal kita
Thai -- Ch'an rak khun
Tunisian -- Ha eh bak
Turkish -- Seni seviyo rum
Ukrainian -- Ja tebe kokhaju
Vietnamese -- Toi yeu em
Welsh -- 'Rwy'n dy garu di
Yiddish -- Ich libe dich
Yugoslavian -- Ya te volim
Zulu -- Ngiyakuthanda
About The Author
Copyright (c) Jeffrey Strain - http://www.inexpensivedating.com
is a website dedicated to sharing fun and inexpensive dating ideas. info@savingadvice.com
Courtesy of http://www.ArticleCity.com/
Cool Valentine’s
Day Gifts for Men by:
Kenia Morales
Most of us women have an eye for
detail. So when it comes to buying presents for your friends, kids etc.
you are probably a “slick diva”. But what happens when you have given the
man in your life a fair share of gifts and ran out of ideas or simply want
to give something different than the typical button down shirt and tie.
Well lucky for you I have created a list of cool gifts for men.
1. A gift basket- Yes, I know!
It seems a little weird but, the gift basket business is “in” right now
and they even carry gift baskets for beer lovers. An example of this basket
would be: 6 beers from different countries and all type of munchies to
go with it. If your mate enjoys drinking beer this is the perfect gift
for him. Price range can be anywhere from $30 and above. Champaign gift
baskets are available for those of you that are thinking about a sexier,
sophisticated night.
2. Jewelry- Women love it
when men give them jewelry as a present but, it does not mean he would
not enjoy it also.
3. Electronics – I do not
know about your partner but my husband drools all over electronic items.
The same way women drool over shoes.
4. Collection- Does your mate
have a collection of any type. Buy him one of the missing pieces.
5. Cigars- Just make sure
you give them to a guy that smokes or is at least is interested on trying
them.
6. Bath & Body products for
men- I am sure a man can also appreciate being pampered.
7. Video/computer games- Does
he enjoy playing video games? Games are no longer for kids only. So if
he is into playing, surprise him!
8. Gift Card of his favorite store-If
you have no clue of what to get him.
9. What he needs- If you can
find something that he needs; buy it for him. What best present than a
present that he will truly use.
About The Author
Kenia Morales is the publisher of
online magazine http://kpatra.com
"For Every Aspect of Today's Woman. Visit her site to find a variety of
women related issues and topics" click here http://www.kpatra.com/keniascolumn.htm
to find Kenia's little piece of heaven her inspirational column
keniamorales@kpatra.com
Courtesy of http://www.ArticleCity.com/
Valentine's
Day - Dinner Party Ideas
The old saying the way to a mans
heart is through his stomach well I think that holds true for women too!
For Valentines Day try cooking an intimate dinner for two and see how happy
your partner will be. In some cases a group of people for dinner will also
be a great way to celebrate Valentines Day. What a great way to shine,
showing off your cooking and entertaining skills.
Creating a dinner party for two or
ten starts the same way, with a menu. First step is to review the space
available for dinner. Is there room for a sit down dinner or would a buffet
work better in your home or apartment. Second you want to develop a menu
that won't keep you in the kitchen all night but at the table with your
partner and friends. Third you want to plan a dessert that will be a grand
finale to a fabulous evening or the beginning of a romantic night for two!
So let's start with the space, if
you are planning a buffet the key would be to create a meal that does not
require cutting with a knife. Items that work real well are rice, grilled
shrimp or beef kabobs, salad prepared with bite size pieces of lettuce
and pre-dressed, baked rosemary potatoes, purred soups, baked fish, should
not be cut but rather flaked with a fork. The choices are endless it all
depends upon the pallet of the guest or guests.
Start prepping early in the day so
that you have plenty of time to tidy up the place and clean yourself up
with out stressing. Keep in mind even if you invited a group of people
over your partner will still be looking at you and thinking about how wonderful
you are and what time the guests will be leaving. Set the atmosphere
as warm and romantic as possible, fund upbeat music and candles work great.
Remember its Valentines Day and it should feel that way for your guests
or one special guest!
Valentine's Day Menus that are simple
to prepare:
Buffet Menu
Grilled Marinated Shrimp or Beef
Kabobs
Rice Primavera or Pesto Rice with
sliced black olives
Salad, mixed greens dressed with
extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar
Basket of bread and sesame bread
sticks
Choclate Straberry Sweets
Dinner For Six
Broiled pork loin with baked quartered
rosemary potatoes
Steamed broccoli with lemon mustard
sauce
Bread with extra virgin olive oil
for dipping
Fresh Strawberries with whipped
cream or cool whip
My Valentine Favorite
Broiled or grilled salmon or tuna
with teriyaki marinate
Bok Choy with shredded carrot and
sesame seeds
Steamed rice with a drizzle of olive
oil or a tab of butter for flavor and to avoid sticking
Vanilla ice cream topped with a
fortune cookie (either homemade or purchased)
Come to Dateable.com/simplydelicious
to find these great recipes and more! The Valentines' Day menus will be
also available by e-mail. Just send a blank e-mail to the gourmet@dateable.com
:)
©2001 - Roseanne Cantisani
About the author: Roseanne Cantisani
is a freelance writer and editor of dateable.com/simplydelicious, a web
site dedicated to simple, healthy cooking. You can find articles, recipes,
kitchen and cooking products, and a forum for any cooking or entertaining
questions. If you like this article please sign up for the simply delicious
newsletter at http://dateable.com/simplydelicious/
or
send an email to the gourmet@dateable.com
