Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day

As I was opening my thousands of Valentine’s Day cards and gifts this morning, obviously dreaming I had received that many, I began to ponder the origins of this day.

So, my search began. First, I came across a Roman festival called Lupercalia which took place from the 13^th – 15^th February and was a festival of fertility. It involved the names of girls being place in an urn then the men would remove a girl’s name and would “couple” with that girl for the next 12 months! In modern day terms this perhaps would be like attending a swinging party and throwing your keys in a gold fish bowl. Not that I have ever been to one being a happily married 49-year-old.

I think the more traditional view is that the day is named after Saint Valentine who went behind the Emperors back in Rome to marry soldiers to their loved ones. The Emperor believed that soldiers could not be good at their job if they were married and banned it.

However, you think it started it is a huge tradition in the United Kingdom and has a huge economic impact for florists and greeting card makers probably because they over inflate the cost of everything.

While the custom of sending cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts originated in the UK, Valentine’s Day remains connected with various regional customs in England. In Norfolk, a character called ‘Jack’ Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children. Although he was leaving treats, many children feared this mystical person.

In the cruise world today is a good day for making a booking as many cruise operators offer additional incentives such as champagne or chocolates to entice you to make a booking.

The best I can do is a little poem for you all:

Cruise ships are white

Oceans are blue

Call me today

And let me book you

Call me today for all your romantic cruise getaways on 03333 002855 or email me at [email protected].