Author |
Message |
Konamouse
Member
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 6:08 am
There had to be a St. Valentine before there there was Valentine's Day, and here is that legend: Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young, single men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France. Now, on to the question. I think that back in "those days" the English (or whatever they were called back then) didn't know how to read or write. That was a skill educated Romans, and Jewish scholars (and Egyptians, Assyrians, etc). So, I'll vote: CRAP 'squeek'
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Heyltslori
Moderator
09-15-2001
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 6:14 am
Crap
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Jagger
Member
08-07-2002
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 6:33 am
Well it's partially true, it was written by the king, but not to his wife, it was to his mistress. So it has to be crap
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Lumbele
Member
07-12-2002
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 6:42 am
crapola
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 7:18 am
Crap. Pretty much what the Mouse said! Purr.... 
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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 9:34 am
Will you be my Crapentine?
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 9:50 am
No, how about your Factentine?
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 10:15 am
No, I don't think so. The biblical book, Song of Solomon, is filled with passages from a bridegroom to his bride. It's quite beautiful. I see it as an older existing valentine!
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Laralyn
Member
08-04-2005
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 10:56 am
Because I think that I am the oldest living Valentine on this board I say Crap
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO THE BOARD
           
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 11:02 am
Crap. The oldest existing Valentine message in English was written in A.D. 497 by Grimwilde Arfenwulfe, second cousin to the King of Bavaria, to his mistress, Grenmilda.
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 12:41 pm
ROFL Juju!!
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Cndeariso
Member
06-28-2004
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 2:07 pm
crap
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 2:35 pm
Are you sure that isn't Crapmilda, Juju?
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Chaplin
Member
01-08-2006
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 4:32 pm
Crap
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Max
Moderator
08-12-2000
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 10:21 pm
Happy Valentine's Day, you FoCers! Hope you all had a nice day, Valentine or no Valentine. The question at hand is. . . Was the oldest existing Valentine message in English written in AD496 by Aethelwulf, second King of Britain, to his wife, Osburga? Here's what you said: Before we get to what the Calendar Crew says, an award is in order!
to Hukdonreality for her fine rendition of what that early Valentine might have said. Disclaimer: I have no idea whether Poetices.com would agree with my bestowing this honor on Hukdonreality. I simply like their graphic! While Hukd's poem might be accurate, here's another possibility:
Okay, so what do those pesky Calendar Codpieces have to say, anyway? It's CRAP! "Though it was AD496 when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine's Day, it wasn't until the 1400s that Valentine messages were commonly sent in England. The oldest known Valentine in English was written in 1477 by Margery Brews of Norfolk to her fiance, John Paston. It is now housed in the British Library and begins: 'Unto my right well-beloved Valentine John Paston, squire, be this bill delivered.'" Oh, how romantic! Okay, onward past the roses, the chocolates, the cheap sentiments written on over-priced Hallmark cards and forward to the next question!
There are more Aborigines now than in the late 18th century, when Europeans first colonized Australia. FACT or CRAP? You decide!
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Tabbyking
Member
03-11-2002
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 10:29 pm
frappincrap, you focer. this is a toughie and am going to make a 'beducated' guess, which means i am getting sleepy and brain cells don't figure for crap: uh, let's say FACT. just because i really shouldn't say crap so often.
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Kitt
Member
09-06-2000
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 10:39 pm
Fact.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 11:17 pm
Fact.
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Tess
Member
04-13-2001
| Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 2:17 am
Fact
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Dogdoc
Member
09-29-2001
| Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 4:31 am
crap
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Lumbele
Member
07-12-2002
| Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 6:03 am
crap
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 6:32 am
Y'know, I absolutely have no idea. None. Zip. Zilch. So I'm gonna go with FACT since I used CRAP yesterday! 
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Cndeariso
Member
06-28-2004
| Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 6:48 am
you bet your didgeridoo that is crap!
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Konamouse
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 7:12 am
On the one hand, modern medicine and advances in agribusiness can extend the lifespan & increase birthrates. On the other hand, western civilization can encroach upon territory. And bring with it the communical diseases that helped to wipe out the native American population as well. How does one count the mixing of the races? I'll go with CRAP on this one.

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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 11:01 am
This one today could be argued. Prior to Eurpean occupation, the people there were called by many different names. There were many cultures existing there. It was the Europeans who called them Aborigine. I've heard this word used to describe native peoples in other countries, too. FACT
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