V Is For Valentines Photograph by Kathy K McClellan

V Is For Valentines

by Kathy K McClellan

Canvas Print

Framed Print

Art Print

Poster

Metal Print

Acrylic Print

Wood Print

Greeting Card

Title

V Is For Valentines

Artist

Kathy K McClellan

Medium

Photograph - Photographs

Description

V Is For Valentines by Kathy K. McClellan is an image created for Day 45 of the Journal 2022 Challenge, a 365 day Personal Art Challenge. This is a square image bordered in black.

My journal entries for February 2022 include upper case (capital) letters of the Modern English Alphabet as well as a description that relays information on the word chosen for that day's letter. These letters are created from used wine corks.

V is the twenty second letter of the Modern English Alphabet.

This image is being created and uploaded on Valentine's Day. This holiday is also known as the Feast of Saint Valentine.

Who is this Saint Valentine for whom this holiday is named? According to my research there were actually three Christian martyrs with that name. One was a bishop, one a priest, and very little is known about the third except that he was martyred in Africa.

Saint Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th in the US and most other countries, however in some parts of the world the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates on July 6th for one of the martyrs and July 30 in honor of another.

The date of the holiday can be traced from either the death of the martyrs or the pagan fertility festival Lupercalia on February 13th-15th. Scholars disagree on the origin.

Our tradional symbols can be traced to legends surrounding the life and death of the martyrs. Hearts cut from parchment and given to soldiers to remind them of God's love and their vows by Saint Valentine gives us the heart symbol. Valentine cards allegedly came from a note signed "From Your Valentine" from one saint to the daughter of his jailer (after healing her of blindness).

The giving of flowers, chocolates and other gifts appears to have originated in the UK but the notion of romanic love may have been originated and promoted by modern Anglo-American customs.

Valentine's Day has an ancient and interesting history. In modern times it has become a billion dollar business in the US alone. However, a study done in 2019 found that the number of people who celebrate the holiday is declining for several reasons.

Whether or not you are celebrating this holiday I wish each of you reading this a Happy (Valentine's) Day!