Hearts and Shamrocks (with little to do with writing)...

                   
                              

In the span of a month and 3 days, we have two holidays dedicated to Saints - the only two on the American calendar.

Hearts - February 14th - A day of celebrating St. Valentine's with overpriced flowers, chocolates, and Hallmark cards - that special day, set aside because of?? If I polled 100 random American's, how many would know anything more than, "It is named after some saint?" I had assumed he was some martyred man, who was canonized and made the patron saint of something to do with love, but wasn't sure, so...I looked up St. Valentine. Martyred, yes (beaten, stoned, then decapitated). Patron saint of love, yes (also of young people and happy marriages). However, there were two of them - both men named "Valentine" who were tortured and beheaded by Claudius II in Rome. Although there are stories about both, according to the catholic websites, there is little known of either. There are stories to justify the connections to love and marriages, but lack of proof. (Clarification - I am a curious historian, not a cynic. To set aside a day specifically to remember our love for one another is wonderful.)

A portrait of St. Valentine

Shamrocks - March 17th - A day of celebrating St. Patrick by wearing green, sporting shamrocks, and spotting lucky leprechauns while drinking green ale- that special day, set aside because of?? Again, I had the assumption that he was some martyred man, who was canonized and had something to do with the Irish, but I wasn't sure about the rest, so...I looked up St. Patrick. Martyred, nope (poverty and suffering yes, but no martyrdom). Patron saint of the Irish, yes. But he wasn't Irish - he was British, taken by raiders to be a slave in Ireland. So, why canonized? After he escaped and returned to Britain, he dreamed the Irish were calling him back. He became a priest and returned to Ireland, bringing Christianity to the people. The Shamrock? He used it to explain the Trinity to the people. That, I must say, it pretty cool!The green, the shamrock, the Irish...but the green ale and leprechauns? For that one, I am still lost.

A portrait of St. Patrick

Of the over 800 canonized saints of the Catholic church, St. Valentine and St. Patrick were the only two celebrated with American holidays? Why that is, however, is a question that I can not answer - yet. Happy Valentines, everyone!