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15 July 2009
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Valentine's traditions

  • Valentine's: How it began
  • Love poetry

    The girls from Maes Gwyn share some folklore, myths and legends to do with love...


    heart It was said that a young girl was supposed to marry the first single man she met on this day.

    heart It was believed that if you went to the cemetery on St Valentine's Eve at midnight and ran around the church 12 times, you would have a vision of your future husband.

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

    heart 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.

    heart 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.

    heart 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 and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.

    heart 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.

    heart 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.

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

    heart Hundreds of years ago in England, many children dressed up as adults on Valentine's Day. They went singing from home to home. One verse they sang was:
    Good morning to you, valentine;
    Curl your locks as I do mine,
    Two before and three behind.
    Good morning to you, valentine.

    heart Add your love messages

  • Valentine's: How it began
  • Love poetry

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