The Love Birds of St. Valentines Day

Posted on February 14, 2021 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader:

I always like to be able to sneak in a little history behind  holidays and customs. St. Valentines Day has plenty of legends, myths and stories. But I discovered the creation of connecting love birds to this holiday by accident on the internet. It always makes me happy… learning something new.

It  goes back to that famous writer of old….Chaucer...himself

Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to link the Catholic martyr St. Valentine with love in his poem Parlement of Foules (1382.)

It was written to celebrate the anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II to Anne of Bohemia.

In this earliest of valentine images, all the birds, the whole parliament of fowls, are gathered in the most beautiful of all the gardens in the world….the  Garden of Love.  Chaucer wrote:

For this was on seynt Valentynes day
When every foul comyth there to chese his make

For this was on Saint Valentine’s day
When every bird came there to choose his mate…the creation of the idea of love birds as a metaphor for human love on this special day of remembrance for a royal anniversary and Saint Valentine… began on February 14. 

Pictures of Real Life Love Birds today….

Yes…love is in the air today…no matter the cold temps and constant rain here…you can’t erase love.

I ordered one of the Celtic Fairy lamps advertised a lot over Christmas…it arrived just in time for Valentines…there is something so pretty about little twinkling white lights…It creates the perfect feeling of comfort and love on St. Valentines Day…with a hint of magic for good measure.

So until tomorrow…

To all us “lovebirds” today…Let us remember human love extends to so many people in our lives, family, friends and people we admire in history and current events today. Isn’t it nice that “one size” doesn’t fit all when it comes to love…love comes in all shapes, sizes, forms, and circumstances…it will always be the magic that makes the world go round…

…And speaking of love and magic…Jo texted me this adorable picture and metaphor for rainbows and eternal love on this Valentines Day. Quite appropriate.  Jo always sends a smile! 🙂

Almost ready to close the door, but at the end of the ride, there will be the most beautiful rainbow…filled with so many promises. 

“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY READERS…AND DON’T FORGET…BEING SINGLE HAS ITS PERKS! 🙂   🙂   🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”
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4 Responses to The Love Birds of St. Valentines Day

  1. Rachel Edwards says:
    February 14, 2021 at 8:59 am

    Happy Valentine’s Day sweet friend…

    Reply
  2. isaiah46ministries says:
    February 14, 2021 at 3:53 pm

    Becky,
    Seeing Van Gogh without an ear emphasizes that blessings are relative. Happy Valentine’s Day.

    Reply

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