Old Valentine’s Day Traditions

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so I wanted to shoot out a quick post about some of the fun old fashioned traditions associated with the most romantic day of the year.

For example, did you know that it was commonly believed that the first bird (or small animal) a woman saw on Valentine’s Day would predict what her husband would be like or do for a living? Here are some examples:

If you saw a….

• Sparrow: you’ll marry a poor person, but you’ll be happy
• Woodpecker: you’ll remain single this year
• Bluebird: you’ll marry a happy person
• Blackbird: you’ll marry a priest or clergyman
• Goldfinch: you’ll marry a millionaire
• Robin: you’ll marry a sailor
• Hawk: you’ll marry a soldier or brave person
• Owl: your lover will die young
• Crossbill: you’ll marry a an argumentative or bad-tempered person
• Flock of Doves: you will have a happy marriage
• Squirrel: you will marry a cheapskate

Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 in most countries, but the reasons why are a little varied. Some people believe that St. Valentine was executed on the 14th, so in his honor we continue his tradition of spreading love and marriage. Other sources suggest that it has something to do with bird mating seasons, which generally start in February. Who knows?

Here are some other fun Valentine’s Day traditions:

•  Some cultures believed that on Valentine’s Day, you would marry the first eligible man you saw that day.
• Alternatively, the first male name you read in the paper or hear on the Radio/TV will be the name of the man you marry
• If you cut an apple in half, the number of seeds inside will indicate the number of children you will have.
• If you find a glove on the road on Valentine’s Day, your future beloved will have the other missing glove.
• In England, women would write the names of their sweethearts on small scraps of paper and place them on clay balls. They would drop them into water, and whichever scrap of paper surfaces first is the name of the man destined to be her future husband.
• On Valentine’s Day eve, if you put a silver coin under your pillow, your true love will propose to you by the end of the year.
• If you tie a blue satin ribbon around your ankle, you’ll be kissed by days end.
• If you pin a Bay leaf to each corner of your pillow and one in the center of the pillow (on the underside, of course), you will dream of your future love.

Do you know of any other old fashioned valentine’s day traditions? Share them with us in the comments, or join us in the forums! And have a great Valentine’s Day!!