WHY VALENTINE’S DAY

A day for romantics

The fourteenth of February, a day that is all about romance and love- a time of year that people can buy a card covered in hearts and flowers for the person they love without hiding it from public view.

In some places love is always in the air. There is a bridge in Paris, the Pont de l’Archevech covered in love-locks. Couples can engrave a padlock with their initials and fasten it on to the bridge before turning the key in the lock together then tossing the key to the padlock and there love into the Seine, sealing their love forever. And yet another bridge in Rome covered in these love-locks. This one was inspired by a book entitled ‘I Want You.’ Then in Serbia there is another renowned bridge dedicated to love, and a few more in places like Dublin and Canada, all devoted to the pursuit of love – the happy ever after romance writers put on paper for there readers. Yet still, they haven’t named a day after these river crossings that I feel are more convenient than symbolic.

Bridge Day. Hmmm, it doesn’t have the same ring.

Throughout the world men have declared their love by buying heart-shaped islands and building wonderful buildings such as the Taj Mahal in India, and the Petit Trianon at Versailles Louis XV built for Madame le Pompadour to show their love.  Yet there has never been a day named after these grandiose tokens of the heart’s passion.

Palace Day…no I don’t think so.

That brings us back to St Valentine’s Day. Or should I say the saint previously known as St, Valentine. Some churches still recognise his day as a festival and to be honest over the centuries many areas have laid claim to the real saint, so I’m only going to give you my favourite.

So what exactly did Valentine do to earn beatification in the first place?

It was actually due to the efforts of a priest named Valentine that the day of February 14^th got its name. The story goes that during the reign of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in several bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius found it tough to get soldiers and felt the reason was men did not join army because they did not wish to leave their wives and families. As a result Claudius cancelled all marriages and betrothals to put a stop to this. A Roman priest, and romantic at heart, St Valentine decided to defy Claudius’s order and along with Saint Marius, St Valentine secretly married couples. When his defiance was discovered, Valentine was brutally beaten and put to death on February 14, about 270 AD. After his death Valentine was named a Saint.

I like this version because it’s at the heart of the romances we write. A hero and heroine willing to dare anything, to resist taking the easy way out, ready to challenge anyone’s right to remove their right to a loving future together. And the story of a priest willing to risk death to make sure they achieve that goal – that happy ever after we all dream of achieving.

Happy Valentine’s Day, don’t forget to tell someone I love you.

Frances

The Chieftain’s Curse

No. 1. Itunes best seller – historical romance

Here’s what a reviewer says…

5.0 out of 5 stars

Atmospheric, February 8, 2013

By Jenny Schwartz (Australia) –

The Chieftain’s Curse (Kindle Edition)

Such a vivid setting. The Chieftain’s Curse was intensely emotional with a tangled plot nicely explored and all loose ends dealt with – it made for a great read. Side characters were developed more than in many romances and that added to the richness of the story.

If you enjoy a sexy historical romance, this is for you!