11681 St Valentine

I'm carrying out a little research and see there are various theories about St Valentine. I like this one from about.com

[COLOR="red"]"It is strange to think that Saint Valentine, who was renowned for his chastity, became the patron saint of lovers. The historical antecedent comes from two sources. During classical Roman times, Emperor Claudius II decreed marriage forbidden for soldiers. A priest named Valentine ignored this decree and encouraged young people to be united in holy matrimony. For this, he was sentenced to prison and executed on February 14th.

In 1465, Pope Paul II authorized the distribution of marriage gifts to poor women. The first ceremony was set for February 14th, and Saint Valentine, whose sainthood was celebrated on this day, became known as the protector of lovers.

The Italian language is rich in expressions and idioms, and frasi d'amore on Valentine's Day are especially endearing. In English, the expression "I love you" is ubiquitous, while in Italian "Ti amo" is used only between lovers, never with friends, family, or inanimate objects. Instead, the expressions "Vuoi bene" or "Ti voglio bene" are preferred. When in doubt, refer to an Italian language relationship primer. For the truly romantic, learn how to say 'I Love You' in Italian."

Italian Valentine Vocabulary List

gli abbracci — hugs
affettuoso — affectionate
l'amante — lover
i baci — kisses
il biglietto d'auguri per San Valentino — Valentine's Day card
i cioccolatini — chocolates
il diamante — diamond
la festa di San Valentino — the festival of Saint Valentine
il/la fidanzato/a — fiancé/fiancee
i fiori — flowers
gli innamorati — lovers
provocante — provocative, sexy
sedurre — to seduce
sessuale — sexual
le smancerie — over-wrought, cloying sentiments
il mio tesoro — my darling"[/COLOR]

Category
General chat about Italy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/13/2009 - 18:19

St Valentine 'not saint of love'

Britain's Roman Catholic Church is advising lovelorn singles to direct their February 14 requests for love to St Raphael, rather than St Valentine.

[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7888539.stm]BBC NEWS | UK | St Valentine 'not saint of love'[/url]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/14/2009 - 04:19

Anyway - according to the Catholic Church, today's saints are Cyril and Methodius - not Valentine
[url]http://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php[/url]

Commercialism has gone mad in the UK - this year you can buy Valentine cards to send to your Mum and also your Dad!

.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/14/2009 - 10:32

You're right Nielo - it [U]IS[/U] a day for romantics - not for arguing which Saint does, or doesn't represent the 'eternal lovers'...

My husband never [I]ever[/I] bought me a card, but every year he would give me one long stemmed red rose for every year we were married... the last bouquet he was able to give me contained 19 beautiful roses, and if he had still been with me now then this year it would have risen to no less than 43.

I love listening to this piece of music today (already had a few tears of nostalgia) but I'm sure the other 'romantici' here will enjoy it too!

[CENTER][B][ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7FGPIRJx6I"]YouTube - Queen + Luciano Pavarotti - Too Much Love Will Kill You[/ame][/B]
[/CENTER]

[CENTER][IMG]http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/5029057/2/istockphoto_5029057-single-long-stem-rose.jpg[/IMG]
[/CENTER]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/14/2009 - 12:12

Dear Carole

This is for you! Thank you for the music, almost made me cry as well what with your message too.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/14/2009 - 12:45

I don't know I've never had one, I live with a man who has never sent me a card, bought me a present. But does not need to do so.
Sprat

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/14/2009 - 17:12

Happy Valentines day to you CaroleB. I'm sure hubby sent you 43 roses in spirit today - after he had kissed each one for you.

Oneto, hoping you enjoyed the Carrot, Corriander and Pineapple soup - much love to you and Mrs Oneto.

Edited - Sally has deleted her post where she said she had never had a card, flowers or ever had a man who loved her in her life - so this (encouraging) part of my post would not make any sense if I left it here.

:smile:

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/14/2009 - 18:15

In our shop here in the UK, a gallery and gift shop, we have been selling presents and cards for Valentine for the last week or two. I have a couple of times said to customers I know "I doubt I will get anything, Ron was on holiday the day romance was handed out".

This morning I came downstairs to find a dozen red roses, a lovely card (not from our shop but still with the £3 price tag on the back(!) and a love songs CD. This is a first for as long as I can remember.

I was quite surprised but he said I deserved them as I have been exceptionally busy these past six or so weeks since he fell and broke his ribs and other injuries and has been unable to do a lot of work he normally does, doing my work and some of his.

I said I did not have anything for him. His reply was

"you were obviously on holiday the day romance was handed out".

And there's me thinking he is deaf and doesn't hear half of what I say!!!!!LOL:eerr:
Maralyn

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/14/2009 - 19:07

[COLOR="red"]25 years ago "today" on February 14th Torvill and Dean won the Olympic Gold Medal for the UK dancing to Ravel's Bolero. Twelve perfect sixes which has never happened before or indeed after. Enjoy.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z294aobT3QY&feature=related]YouTube - Torvill and Dean 1984 Gold Medal[/ame][/COLOR]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/15/2009 - 13:16

For those of you who love skating.- Torvill and Dean are involved in "Dancing On Ice", a contest to find the best celebrity skating star. Programme 6 of 11 at 6.55 UK time which I would imagine is obtainable on satellite in Italy.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/18/2009 - 21:52

[quote=Oneto15;111051]Being Valentines day, Mrs Oneto will be receiving her annual Grand Romantic Gesture. :wubclub:

That's right it's the full culinary monty, none of your pre-prepared ready meals gourmet or otherwise from M&S. No it'll be scratch made from those thingamajigs not normally associated with men and kitchens, that's right fresh ingredients!

(As I've been stuck in the kitchen since 11am it had better all work out ........... wish me luck. :swoon::swoon:[/quote]

Well, Oneto don't keep us in suspense any longer. How did your Valentine dinner come out? It sounded like an ambitious and delicious menu. [IMG]http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Love/romantic-dinner-049.gif[/IMG]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 04:03

I missed this thread while I was "technically excommunicated". I wanted to add that the patron saint for lovers changes according to the countries although St Valentine starts to be celebrated everywhere. In Spain, Portugal and Brazil you pray to St Anthony of Padua if you want a husband or a wife [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_of_Padua]Anthony of Padua - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/url] and he is also quite handy to help you find lost objects, etc.
By the way, on the 15th of February it was our Ruby Wedding Anniversary (40 years!!!!!) so celebrations were concentrated around that date. I got a very beautiful gold, ruby and pearl brooch hubby bought for me last year at a Ponte Vecchio jeweller and kept hidden all this time. Thoughtful guy, he was observing me and remarked my interest in the piece, then left me alone buying some gloves, gave me an excuse, went and bought it. Nice surprise!!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 04:11

Don't you just love 'em when they actually plan ahead like Gala's husband and Oneto15!

Not only have they remembered [I]'on the day'[/I], but they've also
given that romantic gesture a lot of thought too... :wubclub:

*sigh*

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 05:10

Auguri Abruzzoluely - is it really 2 years? Where does time go?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 05:21

Happy Birthday ABRUZZOLUTELY....
Sprat

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 13:35

Moved to : Italiauncovered.co.uk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 13:48

[quote=Oneto15;111464]Hi Lisa.

It all went down a treat. I even managed to surprise myself !! :wideeyed:

Mrs Oneto was greatly cheered by the fact that, not only was I able to produce an edible 3 course meal [B]and[/B] do all the washing up, the kitchen remained intact and the emergency hotline to the local Fire brigade went unused. :swoon:

Honestly, I can't understand what all the fuss was about.......[IMG]http://www.italiauncovered.co.uk/forums/images/ibulletin/smilies/wink.gif[/IMG][/quote]

Great to hear it turned out so well - I"m especially impressed that you cleaned up! My husband likes to cook but the kitchen generally looks like a tornado has passed through once he has finished! I think it was a very sweet gesture on your part and I hope you earned some brownie points.
[IMG]http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Love/cupido-127.gif[/IMG]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 14:01

And now Oneto15, you can deservedly put your feet up for the next 360+ days. Good man.:bigergrin:

A tip though, I've learned that the most you can ever earn is 1 (brownie) point. Whether it's a Ferrari you buy, a box of chocolates, trip to the theatre or 3 course dinner - each are valued at 1 point.:laughs:

Tin helmets...

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 04:41

Just returned from a week in Spain as mine and my other half's valentine treat. Will defo be doing another child free week again next valentine lol

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 05:47

Looks and sounds idyllic scatterbrain, assuming you didn't bump into Gala!!! lol

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 06:30

[quote=Sally Donaldson;111509]Looks and sounds idyllic scatterbrain, assuming you [COLOR=Red][I]didn't[/I][/COLOR] bump into Gala!!! lol[/quote]

[IMG]http://www.thepetsforums.com/forums/images/smilies/smiliesII/huh.gif[/IMG]

What [U][I]DO[/I][/U] you mean Sal? That the holiday would have been [B]spoiled and noisy[/B] if they [U][I]had[/I][/U] 'bumped into Gala?'

[B] :nah: Surely that's [U]NOT[/U] what you meant -is it?

[/B]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 09:56

No, we did not bump into each other, although it could have been fun. The photo is from Benidorm.... about 800 km southeast from where I live. Much warmer, indeed.