Valentine’s Day Traditions Thru History

We traditionally give cards, candy, flowers, teddy bears and other items of affection on Valentine's Day.  But thru the ages in other cultures and in other parts of the world there have been other ways of expressing your love for your special Valentine.

In the Middle Ages, young men and women would wear the name of the person they love on a slip of paper on their sleeve for a week.  From that comes the term wearing your heart on your sleeve.

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. 

Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man, but she would be very happy.  If she saw a finch, she would marry a rich man.

Another tradition is to think of the names of five or six men or women you might like to marry. As you twist the stem of an apple, say the names until the stem comes off.  That’s the person you’ll marry.  If you cut the apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you’ll also know how many children you’ll have.