Valentine’s Day

Much of the country is covered with snow this Valentine’s Day. That’s not unusual for a day in the middle of February in the Northern hemisphere, and when we mark Valentine’s Day on February 14th, we’re talking about Saint Valentine and Western Christianity. The Eastern Orthodoxy church commemorates Valentine’s Day on July 6, and, though I know there’s a reason for that I don’t know what it is

Saint Valentine, also know as Valentine of Terni, was born in the town of Terni in Italy, died in Rome in 273, and lies entombed in the Basilica of Terni. He’s the patron saint of Terni, and also the patron of those unfortunate to suffer from epilepsy or, indeed, fainting or plague. And, yes, lovers and happy marriages. But to say much more about Saint Valentine leads to ambiguity, supposition and confusion. There are so many different stories and legends and — what’s most awkward — too many relics, too many bones in too many churches. In fact, in early books about martyrs there appear to be two, or maybe even three, different Valentines who suffered and died at the hands of their Roman oppressors.

But here we are in the present and the photo on the left shows one of the better ways to carry on, or get carried, if you happen to be in stylish but useless high-heels on a snowy Valentine’s Day.