Valentine Artz

Valentine’s Day is the feast day of St. Valentine. It is a celebration of a saint named Valentinus who was imprisoned for marrying Roman soldiers who were forbidden to marry as well as perform marriages for Christians. Caesar believed that unmarried men made the best soldiers. While in jail he healed Julia, the blind daughter of his jailer. Before his execution he wrote her a note and signed it “from your Valentine”. Geoffrey Chaucer grabbed this day and celebrated it among his circle of friends as a day to celebrate romantic love. It became very popular at court.

Some of the symbols that are associated with this day are hearts, doves, flowers and plump winged Cupids.

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,

All in the morning betime,

And I a maid at your window,

To be your Valentine.

Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,

And dupp'd the chamber-door;

Let in the maid, that out a maid

Never departed more.

—William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5

Enjoy some Valentine Art this week from The Schertz Area Artz Council.