Valentine's
Day, is it real or simply a part of American pop culture? In several
Christian religions such as Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox
Saint Valentine's Day is an official feast day. History itself is
more vague on the whole point, was there really such a person and did
he somehow represent love as a virtue?
Legends
and mythology often stroll the record books of history hand in hand.
J.C Coppers, The Dictionary of Christianity states that Saint
Valentine was “a priest of Rome who was imprisoned for succouring
persecuted Christians.” In another ancient text, Bede's
Martyrology compiled in the 8th Century, states that
Saint Valentine was interrogated in person by Roman Emperor Claudius
II who offered Saint Valentine a deal. Valentine refused the offer
and was executed.
As
with all history embellishments appear through the rolling years and
facts become points of argument only for scholars. Yet there is no
real evidence of any links to St. Valentine's Day and romantic love
until Geoffrey Chaucer's poetry in the 14th Century.
Geoffrey
Chaucer wrote the Parlement of Foules in 1382 and though a
modern translation is desperately needed to follow, his words were:
“For this was on seynt Volantynys
day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese
his make.”
Translated Chaucer really said, “For
this was on St. Valentine's Day, When every bird cometh there to
choose his mate.”
True it may be arguable whether birds
look to mate in February in England but it was the earliest
connection to romance and St. Valentine's Day. Today we are
bombarded with giant red hearts, a multitude of greeting cards in
every price range, and of course the obligatory chocolates. For
chefs and restaurants it is a day to turn down the lights, play
romantic music and roll out the decorated plates.
Although most of us associate St.
Valentine's Day with a Christian leaning, the notion of love and its
heady allure is far from copyrighted to St. Valentine. In China
February 14th is too close to the Chinese New Year so in
Chinese Culture there is an older tradition called 'The Night of
Sevens.' Here according to legend, the Cowherd Star and the Weaver
Star are normally separated by the Milky Way or the silvery river,
but are allowed to meet by crossing it on the 7th day of
the 7th month of the Chinese calendar. Sort of cute and
warming as many legends are, don't you think?
On the other hand, in India's antiquity
there was a tradition of adoring Kamadeva, the lord of love, which
was exemplified by the erotic carvings in the Khajuraho Group of
Monuments, and by the writing of the Kamasutra treaty of lovemaking.
So whether you prefer the Christian
martyr, the allure of the stars and the Milky Way, or the Kamasutra
how to guide, February 14th resonates with love. Yes
there are the flowers, greeting cards, and chocolates, but there is
nothing more special than to do it yourself out of love. So try this
yourself, for the one you love or simply as a treat for yourself.
Take red and delicious strawberries and
some Greek yogurt. Cut the strawberry in half across the middle,
don't forget to remove the leafy green first. Place parchment paper
or foil onto a plate or cutting board. Whatever you choose has to be
flat and of a size that will fit your freezer.
Now place the cut strawberries face down
onto the parchment leaving enough room between each one to be able to
move a teaspoon around. Using a teaspoon start to spread the yogurt
around the strawberry. Cover the whole surface, back and sides,
making sure that the coating of the yogurt is thick enough so as to
be noticed.
After coating all of the pieces of
strawberries on the parchment paper now place them into the freezer.
Do not leave them too long in the freezer, 30 to 40 minutes should be
sufficient.
Take the coated strawberries out of the
freezer as the yogurt sets, trim a little of the yogurt off if
needed, place them on a plate to serve as an opening treat to
anything your heart desires. You may choose to sprinkle them with
some powdered vanilla sugar, or have them as is. The tartness of the
Greek yogurt and the juicy sweetness of strawberry can only be
enhanced with a glass of champagne.
A final tip, a toothpick will help hold
the strawberry in place on the plate as the yogurt is being spread,
and Greek yogurt is the best to use as it is thick and will stick to
the strawberry although slightly softened ice cream can also to the
job well.