Happy February 1!! Can you believe it is already February?
While we (in the Midwest) remain in the midst of the Winter Season,
SPRING is on the near horizon.
When I think of February – Valentine’s Day is the first thought that comes to mind!
Exchanging Valentines during elementary school days ~ Intrigued with the ‘sayings’ on the candy hearts ~ chocolates ~ roses ~ gift exchanges all with heartfelt sentiments!
Have you ever wondered about the origin of Valentine’s Day??
Valentine’s Day is celebrated every February 14 as couples across the globe honor their spouses, partners, and sweethearts. Hundreds of years of traditions and customs have made it into the holiday that we observe today. Here are nine interesting facts about the holiday dedicated to love.
Origins to a Bloody Pagan Festival
Some trace Valentine’s Day origins to a Christian effort to replace a pagan fertility festival that has been dated as far back as the 6th century B.C. During the festival of Lupercalia, Roman priests would sacrifice goats and dogs and use their blood-soaked hides to slap women on the streets, as a fertility blessing. According to legend, women would later put their names in an urn and be selected to be paired with a man for a year.
Letters Addressed to ‘Juliet’
Every year, thousands of romantics send letters addressed to Verona, Italy to “Juliet,” the subject of the timeless romantic tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet.” The city marks the location of the Shakespearean tale, and the letters that reach the city are dutifully answered by a team of volunteers from the Juliet Club. Each year, on Valentine’s Day, the club awards the “Cara Giulietta” (“Dear Juliet”) prize to the author of the most touching love letter.
Box of Chocolates
The Valentine’s Day tradition of giving a box of candy was started in the 19th century by Richard Cadbury, a scion of a British chocolate manufacturing family. With a new technique recently established at the company to create more varieties of chocolate, Cadbury pounced on the opportunity to sell the chocolates as part of the beloved holiday.
First Valentine Was Written from a Prison
History’s first valentine was written in one of the most unromantic places conceivable: a prison. Charles, Duke of Orleans wrote the love letter to his second wife at the age of twenty-one while captured at the Battle of Agincourt. As a prisoner for more than 20 years, he would never see his valentine’s reaction to the poem he penned to her in the early 15th century.
‘Vinegar Valentines’ Discouraged Suitors
During the Victoria Era, those who didn’t want the attention of certain suitors would anonymously send “vinegar valentines.” These cards, also called penny dreadfuls, were the antithesis of customary valentines, comically insulting and rejecting unwanted admirers. They were later used to target suffragettes in the late 19th and early 20th century.
‘Wearing Your Heart on Your Sleeve’
The term “wearing your heart on your sleeve” may have origins in picking a valentine. Smithsonian reports that during the Middle Ages, men would draw the names of women who they would be coupled with for the upcoming year while attending a Roman festival honoring Juno. After choosing, the men wore the names on their sleeves to show their bond during the festivities.
‘Sweethearts’ Candies Started Out as Lozenges
The iconic chalky heart-shaped candies that have been passed out lovingly every Valentine’s Day started out as lozenges. According to the Food Business News, pharmacist and inventor Oliver Chase created a machine that would quickly create the lozenges before switching to using the machine to create candy—later known as Necco Wafers. Chase’s brother came up with the idea to print messages on the candy in 1866, and the candies got their heart shape in 1901, appealing specifically to Valentine’s Day sweethearts.
Cupid Began as a Greek God
The chubby baby with wings and a bow and arrow that we call Cupid has been associated with Valentine’s Day for centuries. However, before he was renamed Cupid, he was known to the ancient Greeks as Eros, the god of love. Eros, the son of Greek goddess Aphrodite, would use two sets of arrows—one for love and another for hate—to play with the emotions of his targets. It wasn’t until stories of his mischief were told by Romans that he adopted the childlike appearance that we recognize today.
How ‘X’ Came to Mean ‘Kiss’
The idea of using a kiss to sign off on valentines also has a long history, according to the Washington Post. The use of “X” came to represent Christianity, or the cross, in the Middle Ages. During the same time, the symbol was used to sign off on documents. After marking with an X, the writer would often kiss the mark as a sign of their oath. As the gesture grew among kings and commoners to certify books, letters and paperwork, these records were described as having been “sealed with a kiss.”
DID YOU KNOW …
January 25 was celebrated as NATIONAL PLAN FOR VACATION DAY?? This started to combat the issue of Americans not taking all their paid time off. But this year, focus on the impact of the pandemic on American workers – many of whom are burnt out and overworked.
“After nearly two years of living with the pandemic, Americans are in serious need of the reset that a vacation offers, no matter how near or far it may take you,” said Roger Dow, President/CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “National Plan for Vacation Day is the perfect opportunity to sit down with family and friends and make plans for much-needed time off for the rest of the year. Rested and recharged workers create a better, more productive workplace. I encourage business leaders and team members to make vacation planning a priority, particularly frontline employees who have been working harder than ever during the pandemic.”
This was me just a few weeks ago – impromptu planning for a 5-night getaway to Mexico. Tired of the wintry weather and ‘stuff’ that can sometimes bog all of us down. Planning underway with my husband, sister/her husband for a mindless respite to the quaint, seaside fishing village of Puerto Morelos (Mexico) – 20 minutes south of Cancun. And, voila … arrival at the hidden gem in the sands of paradise – THE FIVES OCEANRONT, member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a boutique hotel refuge in luxury spacious residences. Puerto Morelos is an authentic fishing village with unique personality of a calm, Bohemian and relaxed atmosphere that allows you to connect with the simplicity of a BEACH PARADISE.
We enjoyed the first 3 nights with their ‘all-inclusive’ features and the final few nights without – providing an opportunity to discover the culinary charm of beautiful Puerto Morelos. The 1-bedroom accommodations provided an abundance of open spaces to relax and re-energize, with breathtaking ocean views, sunrises, and sunsets!
Feel the sand between your toes and the gentle waves of the sea on your skin. Feel the warm breezes lift your spirits and nourish your soul. Escape to exactly what meets your heart. You will love every moment.
RESTORATION ~ OPTIMIZATION
A RESTORED YOU Often, evolving into a greater version of yourself means an authentic level of self-evaluation that calls for a reset.
And while you’re in the mindset of self-improvement, take the time to brush up on fun skills like pickleball, dance, journaling, and more.
Stretch yourself. Discover new tastes. Bask in nature. Whether your journey is enjoyed with others or solo,
rediscover and recharge with a pathway fit for you.
Valentines Heart Necklaces
INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter, softened
¾ cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp lemon zest
2 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 cups confectioners sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp milk
3 drops red food coloring
2 ¼ ounces colored candy sprinkles
60 long red vine licorice
Instructions
Cream 1 cup butter or margarine and 3/4 cup white sugar together. Blend in egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and grated lemon peel. Sift together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour and baking powder. Add to creamed mixture and blend well. Cover and refrigerate dough for approximately 2 hours. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use a floured heart shaped 1 to 2 inch cookie cutter and cut dough into heart shapes. Place the cut-out hearts on greased cookie sheets. Using the drinking straw, make a hole at the top center of each heart before baking. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes until very lightly browned. Cool the cookies on a wire rack. To Make Butter Frosting: Mix 3 cups confectioners’ sugar and 1/3 cup butter together. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons milk. Beat until smooth making sure frosting is of spreading consistency. Stir in food coloring to create a pink or red colored frosting, if desired. After cookies have cooled, frost and decorate them with nonpareils, sprinkles, dragees, or colored sugar. Use a toothpick to dislodge the hole, if necessary. Let the frosting dry. To make a necklace, tie the ends off of two pieces of red colored licorice with a knot. Thread it through the hole at the top center of the cookie. Tie the other ends off with another knot to create a “chain.” Makes approximately 30 heart necklaces.
