So...Valentine's Day, huh?
Flowers, romantic suppers, heart boxes of chocolates and candy
kisses...time tested traditions, Right? Well...not for everyone.
Some extremist Christians think it is rather diabolical. Peace,
Light, and Love, all rolled up in the story of an imprisoned saint,
to conceal the corrupting influence of... hum, let me see...SATAN!?!
That's not quite right,
either. It isn't infernal, but neither is it “sacred” history.
Lupercalia was a Roman (and possible pre-Roman) pastoral celebration
to drive out evil spirits, and welcome in health and fertility. Later
on, the festival was held to honor Lupa, the she-wolf who nursed
Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Two goats and a dog were
sacrificed, the pelts later made into strips with which the priests
would strike the citizens. Women and girls especially tried to be
lashed, as it was thought to increase fertility, reverse sterility,
and ease childbirth. Not exactly wine and roses, but definitely a
celebration of sex.
And that heart candy? The
heart shaped cards, etc.? Now, you all know that this..
So, when did this...
become this?..
There are several
theories. One is based on the idea that early healers were
discouraged from viewing actual body organs, so they symbolized them.
In this example of early French art, a young suitor offers his
“heart” to his lady love. It bears a striking resemblance to
today's stylized heart.
Anciently, the heart was
the seat of the soul, the organ that controlled Love, Life, and
Vitality. The heart of the reborn Osiris was a powerful touchstone
in Egyptian religion and magic. In Mesoamerica, the beating heart of
a human sacrifice guaranteed renewal between the gods and humankind.
The stylized heart bears
resemblance to the ivy leaf, another symbol of emotion. It is also
shaped like the silphium seed. This plant, now extinct, was an
effective contraceptive. It was even depicted on currency.
(One site
mentioned it would be like printing the image of a condom on a $1
bill.)
Then there is the theory
that the “heart”, when inverted, looks like a human scrotum. Hum.
Interesting. Let's not go there.
Here's a great little film
about the development of the “heart” symbol. Give it a look-see!
However you
celebrate...beating each other with “wolf whips”, getting mushy
over a meal, or sitting home watching “Sherlock” with a cuppa and
a Whitman sampler, enjoy yourselves, me “hearties”!
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