Kid’s Craic: Love is in the Air
By Megan Lardie
Who was St. Valentine
There is a great deal of debate over how Valentine’s Day started. Its beginnings did not celebrate with love, flowers, and chocolate, like it is today. The identity of St. Valentine is not clear either.
It is believed that Emperor Claudius II executed two different men, both named Valentine, on February 14, in two different years in the third century (so a really, really long time ago). One of the Valentines that was killed is believed to be a priest who was arrested for not following a law that said soldiers could not be married. It was believed that he was marrying couples in secret.
Another belief is that this priest or another priest with the same name, ended up falling in love with one of his female visitors and started to write her love letters. This priest sent the woman one last letter before he died and signed it, “From your Valentine.” Of course, none of this has ever been officially verified.
What’s Love Got to Do With It
Over time, Valentine’s Day has become more of a holiday about romantic love, possibly due to the stories about the priests that had been passed on and on, or more likely, from poets such as Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare. Chaucer wrote a poem sometime between 1380-1390 called, “The Parlement of Foules,” which is about birds that come together on St. Valentine’s Day to pick a mate.
William Shakespeare is also famous for his love stories and refers to St. Valentine’s Day in three different works. Shakespeare wrote most of his famous works from 1589-1631. Again, all of this was a really, really long time ago.
Hallmark Holiday
So how did Valentine’s Day become what it is today? By the 18th century, many friends and lovers would exchange small gifts and love notes on Valentine’s Day. Due to the industrial revolution of the 19th century, printed Valentine’s Day cards became the hot new thing! In 1913, (not so long ago) Hallmark Cards of Kansas City, Missouri began mass-producing Valentine’s Day cards, and the rest is history.
What is Love
However St. Valentine’s Day started; love is the central theme. Love is not just about romantic love between two people, it is also about love for your family, love for your friends, and even love of yourself. When you truly love someone, you want to care for them and make sure they have what they need. Sometimes it may mean sacrificing your own needs to make sure they get what they need.
Kids in the Kitchen
Strawberry-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark
Ingredients:
3 cups whole-milk plain Greek yogurt 
¼ cup pure maple syrup or honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups sliced strawberries
¼ cup mini chocolate chips
Directions:
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir yogurt, maple syrup (or honey) and vanilla in a medium bowl. Spread on the prepared baking sheet into a 10-by-15-inch rectangle. Scatter the strawberries on top and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Freeze until very firm, at least 3 hours. To serve, cut or break into 32 pieces.
Literature Corner
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
My favorite book! This is a classic story for all ages about how one shows unconditional love for another.
Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tilman
Love is the greatest gift parents give their children. It is the one gift, no matter where they go in the world, they can always take with them. For ages Birth-5, 32 pages.
Lardie’s Laughs
- What flower gives the most kisses on Valentine’s Day?
- Tulips
- What did the refrigerator say to the magnet?
- I find you very attractive!
Gab in Gaelic
Love of my heart = a ghra mo chroi (pron: ah graw muh kree)
