So it’s Valentine’s Day again. That time of year when half the nation takes leave of their senses and feels compelled to send bouquets, chocolates and human-sized teddy bears to work colleagues, classmates and random strangers. There are countless suggestions for the origins of this odd annual outburst of pent-up romantic feeling: pagan fertility rites, medieval courting rituals and celebration days for martyred saints, to name just a few. My own personal favourite tells of a physician named Valentine who concocted his own medicines from honey, wine, herbs and spices – an early home economist, perhaps. Continue reading
14
Feb,
09
