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| | The morality policy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is on the hunt for illegal red roses. This is all part of a crack down on want-to-be St. Valentine's Day romances in a strictly Muslim kingdom. The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the most powerful of the religious "police" in the Kingdom, banned shops from selling any red flowers in advance of February 14th. Florists stated that this is an annual move by the Committee. The members of the Committee are known as mutawwaeen. They seek a strict enforcement of Wahhabi Islamic Law.
One theory about the sad love of one priest Saint Valentine exists, who has given his name to this holiday Lover's Day. Though, archaeologists found a tomb and an ancient temple of Saint Valentine, they precisely do not know how many valentines existed in history and out of them, who was the patron. According to the Catholic Church, at least three saints with the name of Valentine or Valentinus existed. All of them were beheaded on February 14 and at least two of them were killed in the 3rd century in Italy. Most probably, the third Saint Valentine could be the one, who gave his name to Lover's Day. He lived in the 3rd century in Rome as a priest and preaching Christianity, who also secretly conducted the marriages of lovers without obeying the rules of Emperor Claudia II, who banned marriages as he considered that the lonely young bachelor men would be better soldiers. According to a legend, before the execution of Saint Valentine on the 14th of February, 270, Saint Valentine sent a note with the signature “Your Valentine” to the daughter of the jailer. Literally, this phrase at once became "winged" and even today it is printed on many greeting cards for Valentine's Day. The first Christians, who did not celebrate pagan festivals, were pleased to have their own holiday and therefore they lauded the saint patron of all lovers. In the year 496, Pope Gelasy called February 14th as the Saint Valentine's holiday - the patron of all the lovers. However, in 1969, another Roman Pope Paul VI banned celebrating this holiday and removed it from the calendar. But after some time, the “Christian martyr “ once again scored off and now, on the 14th of February, Valentine's Day is celebrated, who is considered as the patron of lovers.
Gradually, Valentine's Day started spreading worldwide and its own traditions appeared in each country. For example, several centuries ago in England, on Valentine's Day, children in the disguise of adults went into houses singing festive songs. In Wales, it was a habit of presenting a wooden spoon, which has a key, keyhole or heart, cutout in the spoon on this day.
Probably, the tradition to gift flowers on Lover's Day appeared in the beginning of the 17th century when Charles II brought the Persian poesy under the name of “Language of flowers” to Europe. In the 18th century, the “Language of flowers” became very popular and in fact, it helped to express feelings and the attitude of a person in a much brighter and precise manner than verbal language. In Europe, books with a “Flower lexicon” were published in which, it was described whom, when and what flowers are to be presented. Since then, not a single activity or not a single holiday is celebrated without flowers.
The rose is probably a unique flower which is known all over the world as a symbol of love. On the entire planet, men (not only men) buy red roses for their loved ones on this day. Earlier, people did not gift habitual roses but the most adored flowers. It is also accepted to gift tulips, lilies, chamomiles and carnations on Valentine's Day.
On this day, people distribute different sweets, more often chocolates in a heart-shaped box to each other. These days, it is possible to present any gift on this holiday - beginning from a lovable pet and ending with the latest mobile phone. |
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