Valentine traditions

All manner of traditions surrounding Valentines Day, including gifts, divination, superstitions, aphrodisiacs, flowers and even love spells!

Gifts of love
In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favorite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, "You unlock my heart!"

Modern gifts include flowers (roses are the traditional fav), chocolates and or course a valentine card.

Divination
In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

In some countries, a young woman may receive a gift of clothing from a young man. If she keeps the gift, it means she will marry him.

A love seat is a wide chair. It was first made to seat one woman and her wide dress. Later, the love seat or courting seat had two sections, often in an S-shape. In this way, a couple could sit together -- but not too closely!

Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry, As you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry the person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off.

Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind. Count the seeds that remain on the stem. That is the number of children you will have.

If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will also know how many children you will have.

At night put yarrow under your pillow, and the first person you see when you leave home will be your future spouse.

To gain the love of someone, on a night of the full moon, walk to a spot underneath your love's bedroom window and whisper their name three times into the wind.

To meet your future spouse count seven stars on seven successive nights, and on the eighth day the first person with whom you shake hands will be your wife or husband.

Love birds
It is traditionally believed that a girl is able to tell what sort of man she will marry by the first bird she sees on St. Valentine's day.

Blackbird - Priest
Robin - Sailor
Goldfinch (any yellow bird) - a rich man
Sparrow - Farmer
Any blue bird - a happy man
Dove - a loving man
Woodpecker - will not marry

If a hen and cockerel are seen together on this day, it indicates that she will marry the next year.

Get in the mood for love
Aphrodisiacs - Asparagus, Bananas, Caviar, Champagne, Chocolate, Fennel, Figs, Oysters, Truffles

Flowers
The flowers you send your valentine also carry a message. A yellow crocus worn in the buttonhole on St. Valentine's day will entice your future intended love.

Anemone - a dying love
Forget-me-not - true love
Lily - purity
Periwinkle - early friendship
Poppy - consolation
Rose - (red) true love, (yellow) jealousy
Snowdrop - hope
Sunflower - warmth of feeling
Tulip - a declaration of powerful love(red), hopeless love (yellow)

Love spells

To discover your love ...............
Before you go to sleep put bay leaves on the corners of your pillow, and one in the centre. Close your eyes and repeat these words 7 times, counting up to seven between each repetition.
'Dear Guardian Angel, let me have what I so earnestly do crave
A Valentine imbued with love, who will both true and constant prove.'
............. your true love should appear to you in a dream.

To attract love into your life ..................
Using a thorn from a white rose bush, scratch the words 'All my love come to me' 3 times on a white candle and light it. Watch as the candle burns down, and picture your love coming to embrace you. When the candle burns down, collect the wax and wrap it up.
............... you should soon receive all the love that this person has for you.

To attract desire .................
Rub a few drops of the aromotherapy oil of Rosehip on the inside of your wrists, before meeting your desired one.

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