25 - Wednesday, February 10. 1988 —- North Shore News

Valentine's
Day has
colorful past

ON FEB. 14, lovers all over North
America scramble for gifts as the
hour of romance strikes.

Pounds of chocolates, armloads
of roses and anonymous love let-
ters all find their way to unsuspec-
ting valentines from Florida to
Fort St. John.

School age children, grownups,
florists to jewellers to confec-
tioners have made this lovely holi-
day their own.

If you've ever wondered about
St. Valentine’s or why we send
chocolates on Valentine's Day,
here is the history of romance.

¢ History. The Birds and Bees
— Valentine’s Day is thought to
have originated in the seventh cen-
tury in honor of St. Valentine, a
Christian martyr.

- St. Valentine, who was put to
death on Feb. 14, 270 A.D.,
‘ because of his religious beliefs, left
behind a farewell note for his love
signed: ‘‘From Your Valentine.’’

Other theories on the origin of
Valentine’s Day include the medi-

NEMS photo Nell Lucente | ¢Val belief that birds begin mating
WE SEE you. Putting their hearts into making. Valentine’ 's Day cards were Roxanna Ching (left) and Carolyn Park, both eight, smong 30 each year on Feb. 14. Yet another

youngsters at the West Vancouver Memorial Library recently for a course in making Valentine's cards. See Valentina

Page 26

VANCOUVER’S
LARGEST

CAPILANO MALL
-GUILDFORD SHOP CTR. LANSDOWNE SHOP CTR.
CHAMPLAIN MALL RICHMOND SQUARE