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14 Facts About Feb 14th 3909

Many think of Valentine’s Day as just a day commemorating Cupid and love or a Hallmark holiday.  Have you ever wondered how this day dedicated to love came to be? There are a lot of stories and symbolism related to the celebration of Valentines Day.  We have done our research and selected 14 fun and interesting facts about the February 14th.

It has Pagan Roots

Historians believe Valentine’s Day began in Ancient Rome as a pagan festival called Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. The festival began with members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, gathering at a sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification. They would then strip the goat’s hide into strips, dip them into the sacrificial blood pool and take to the streets, whipping the women with the goat hide. Although painful, Roman women welcomed the slap of the hides because it was believed to make them more fertile.

It officially became a holiday associated with love and romance

Lupercalia was outlawed at the end of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day. It was not until much later, however, that the day became definitively associated with love. During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance.

There are a few Saint Valentines

The Catholic Church recognizes a few different saints named Valentine, all of whom were martyred. One legend of Valentine is he was a Roman priest who served during the third century. At this time, Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage because he thought single men made better soldiers. Valentine was appalled by this and thought it would be best to keep performing marriages for young couples in love in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. After he was sentenced to his death, young couples would visit his cell and give him flowers and cards. And the day he died? February 14. Allegedly. Another story suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement. Before his execution, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine”.  Although the details behind the Valentine legends are not crystal clear, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, romantic figure. By the Middle Ages Valentine would become one of the most beloved saints in England and France.

 

You can celebrate Valentine’s Day several times a year

Because of the abundance of St. Valentines on the Roman Catholic roster, you can choose to celebrate the saint multiple times each year. Besides February 14, you might decide to celebrate St. Valentine of Viterbo on November 3. Or maybe you want to get a jump on the traditional Valentine celebration by feting St. Valentine of Raetia on January 7. Women might choose to honor the only female St. Valentine (Valentina), a virgin martyred in Palestine on July 25, A.D. 308. The Eastern Orthodox Church officially celebrates St. Valentine twice, once as an elder of the church on July 6 and once as a martyr on July 30.

 

You can find Valentine’s skull in Rome

The flower-adorned skull of St. Valentine is on display in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome. In the early 1800s, the excavation of a catacomb near Rome yielded skeletal remains and other relics now associated with St. Valentine. As is customary, these bits and pieces of the late saint’s body have subsequently been distributed to reliquaries around the world. You’ll find other bits of St. Valentine’s skeleton on display in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Scotland, England and France.

The first valentines were sent in the 15th century

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine’s didn’t begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. (The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England.) Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois

Esther Howland is the first manufacturer of Valentines

Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines in America. Howland, known as the “Mother of the Valentine,” made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as “scrap.” Before Howland commercialized them, American valentines were less romantic and more comic. Her inspiration came from the thoughtful and sweet greeting cards that were circulating in England and she decided to sell similar designs in the U.S.

Americans now send millions of  Valentine’s Day cards each year

By the 19th century printed cards were widely available. Today, according to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year second to Christmas. Teachers receive the most Valentine’s Day cards annually, followed  closely by children, then mothers, wives and significant others.

The Heart is the Symbol of Love

If you ever wondered why everywhere you look on Valentine’s Day there are hearts all around, it’s because it’s a belief in the Christian faith that the heart is the seat of all emotions, especially love. And since love is the dominant feeling of the day, the heart is now a great symbol of the holiday. Wearing your heart on your sleeve is more than just a phrase. In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their Valentine would be. According to the Smithsonian, they would wear this name pinned onto their sleeves for one week so that everyone would know their true feelings. This was the origin of the expression “to wear your heart on your sleeve.”

 

The most popular gift on Valentine’s Day is flowers

The favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess is the red rose. The rose bud stands for strong romantic feelings, so it’s no surprise they make up the most popular Valentine’s Day bouquets. Approximately 50 million roses are received on Valentine’s Day around the world, making it the most popular gift followed by chocolate and then jewelry.

 

The Heart Shaped box has been around for more than 140 years

In addition to creating arguably the richest, creamiest, and sweetest chocolate on the market, Richard Cadbury also introduced the first box of Valentine’s Day chocolates in 1868, According to History.com. Today, more than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold each year. That’s 58 million pounds of chocolate. According to the National Confectioners Association, caramels are the most popular flavor in chocolate boxes, followed by chocolate-covered nuts, chocolate-filled, cream-filled, and coconut.

 

Necco Sweethearts date back to early 1900’s

In 1847, Boston pharmacist Oliver Chase invented a machine that simplified the lozenge production process, resulting in the first candy-making machine, according to The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America. After identifying an opportunity to revolutionize the candy business, Chase shifted his focus to candy production with Necco wafers.  It wasn’t until 15 years after the creation of Necco wafers that Daniel Chase’s brother, Oliver Chase, developed a way to press words onto the candy lozenges with a felt roller pad and vegetable food coloring. According to The Huffington Post, the conversation candies officially became heart-shaped in 1902. Now more than 8 billion conversation hearts are manufactured each year.  Necco must start making them just days after February 14 to have enough in time for the next Valentine’s Day. Each box has approximately 45 sayings and ten new saying are added every year.

 

Cupid, Who?

Cupid is not just a chunky, naked baby with wings, and a bow and an arrow. Cupid is the son of Venus, the god of beauty and love, of course he became the symbol of love and romance.   Named after the Latin word for “desire” (cupido), legend says that Cupid can cause a victim to fall in love just by shooting a golden arrow into his or her heart.

 

Not all Countries Celebrate the same….

*Finland calls Valentine’s Day-  Ystävänpäivä, which translates into ‘Friend’s day’. It’s all about celebrating your friends rather than your partner.  * In Japan, it’s customary for just the women to give confections to the men in their lives, with the quality of the chocolate indicating their true feelings, according to Fortune. On March 14, the men repay the favor by celebrating the increasingly popular “White Day.  *Lovebirds flock to Bangkok’s Bangrak district, Thailand’s “Village of Love” to be married on Valentine’s Day. They believe the aptly named village will ensure them a long-lasting marriage, and they begin lining up outside the Bangrak district office in the wee hours of the morning.  *Each year, the city of Verona receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet on Valentine’s Day. Verona is where Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet lived.  *The concept of Saint Valentine’s keys is famous throughout Europe. People give keys to their lovers “as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver’s heart”. In some parts of Europe, Valentine’s Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated on July 6 and July 30.

 

 

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Don’t Miss LI’s Winter Restaurant Week January 26th- February 2nd, 2020 3871

Long Island Restaurant Week Winter 2020

Join us for our Winter Long Island Restaurant Week January 26th – February 2nd, 2020. As always during restaurant week, participating restaurants will offer a $29.95 three-course prix fixe all night every night they are open from Sunday to Sunday, except Saturday when it only has to be offered until 7 p.m. 

There are new restaurants participating this winter. Why not take this opportunity to get out and try a new spot, or head back to some of your favorites. With so many different cuisines and options to choose from, you are sure to find something to suit your palate. Bon Appétit!

Here is the list of participating Suffolk County restaurants, click on the Restaurant name for menu options or to make a reservation :

Alexandros Kitchen and Bar (631) 979-9700  Suffolk – Smithtown, Mediterranean

Alexandros Restaurant (631) 928- 8600  Suffolk – Mount Sinai, Mediterranean

Athenian Greek Taverna  (631) 499-7660  Suffolk – Commack, Greek

Avino’s Italian Table (631) 803-6416  Suffolk – Bellport, Italian

Babylon Carriage House (631) 422-5161  Suffolk – Babylon, American

Barmani’s Kitchen and Bar (631) 659-3889  Suffolk – Huntington, Continental

Bella Vie  (631) 500-9045 Suffolk – Bay Shore, Italian

Besito Mexican  (516) 620-3222  Suffolk – West Islip, Mexican

Besito Mexican  (631) 549-0100  Suffolk – Huntington, Mexican

Bistro 25   (631) 589-7775  Suffolk – Sayville, New American

Bistro 58 (631) 881-6013  Suffolk – Islandia, American

Bistro Cassis Huntington (631) 881- 6013  Suffolk – Huntington, French

Café Buenos Aires (631) 603- 3600  Suffolk – Huntington, French

Cafe Havana Bar And Grill  (631) 670-6277  Suffolk – Smithtown, Cuban

Café Joelle (631) 589-4600  Suffolk – Sayville, American

Captain Bill’s  (631) 665-6262 Suffolk – Bay Shore, Seafood

Casa Rustica  (631) 265-9265  Suffolk – Smithtown, Italian

Chachama (631) 758-7640  Suffolk – East Patchogue, New American

Chop Shop Bar and Grill (631) 360-3380  Suffolk – Smithtown, American

Cinque Terre Ristorante  (631) 923-1255  Suffolk – Huntington Sta., Italian

Drift 82  (631) 714-4950  Suffolk – Patchogue, American

Garden Grill Restaurant  (631) 265-8771  Suffolk – Smithtown, American

George Martin’s Strip Steak (631) 650-6777  Suffolk – Great River, Steakhouse

H20 East Islip  (631) 277-4800  Suffolk – East Islip, Seafood

H20 Smithtown   (631) 361-6464  Suffolk – Smithtown, Seafood

Honu Kitchen & Cocktails  (631) 421-6900  Suffolk – Huntington, American

Imperial Meat Company (631) 824-6222  Suffolk – Huntington, Steakhouse

Irish Coffee Pub   (631) 277-0007  Suffolk – East Islip, Continental

ITA Kitchen (631) 267-5916  Suffolk – Bayshore, Italian

Jonathan’s Ristorante  (631) 549-0055  Suffolk – Huntington, Italian

Konoba Huntington (631) 824-7712  Suffolk – Huntington, Mediterranean

La Parma II Italian Restaurant (631) 367-6360  Suffolk – Huntington, Italian

LaTavola (631) 750-6900  Suffolk – Sayville, Italian

Le Soir Restaurant  (631) 472-9090  Suffolk – Bayport, French

Lombardi’s on the Bay (631) 654- 8970  Suffolk – Patchogue, Italian

Mac’s Steakhouse (631) 549-5300  Suffolk – Huntington, Steakhouse

Maria’s (631) 979-7724  Suffolk – Nesconset, Latin

Matteo’s of Huntington (631) 421- 6001  Suffolk – Huntington Station, Italian

Mirabelle Restaurant & Tavern (631) 751-0555 Suffolk – Stony Brook, French

Mission Taco (631) 614-8226 Suffolk – Huntington, Mexican

Monsoon   (631) 587-4400  Suffolk – Babylon, Asian

Nantuckets  (631) 509-4848  Suffolk – Port Jefferson, American

Orto  (631) 473-0014  Suffolk – Miller Place, Italian

Pasta Pasta  (631) 331-5335  Suffolk – Port Jefferson, Italian

Piccola Bussola Ristorante (631) 692- 6300  Suffolk – Huntington, Italian

Piccola Mondo (631) 462-0718 Suffolk – Huntington, Italian

Pietro Cucina Italiana (631) 862-6129  Suffolk – St. James, Italian

Pine Grove Inn Steakhouse & Seafood (732) 900-4978  Suffolk – East Patchogue, American

Raimo’s of Amityville (631) 608-3260  Suffolk – Amityville, Italian

Recipe Seven Cocktails and Kitchen (631) 331-5454 Suffolk – Miller Place, American

RHUM Island Inspired Cuisine & Rum Bar  (631) 569-5944  Suffolk – Patchogue, Eclectic

Ristegio’s (631) 731- 3663  Suffolk – Patchogue, American

Salt & Barrel  (631) 647-8818  Suffolk – BayShore, Seafood

Sandbar Restaurant (631) 498-6188  Suffolk – Cold Spring Harbor, American

Sea Basin Restaurant (631) 744-1643 Suffolk – Rocky Point, Seafood

Snapper Inn  (631) 589-0248  Suffolk – Oakdale, Seafood

Taormina Ristorante (631) 499-6900  Suffolk – Commack, Italian

The Blue (631) 446-4233  Suffolk – Islip, American

The Fish Store (631) 472-3018  Suffolk – Bayport, Seafood

The LakeHouse Restaurant (631) 666-0995  Suffolk – Bayshore, New American

The Main Event (631) 522-1030  Suffolk – Farmingdale, American

The Sayville Inn (631) 319- 6774  Suffolk – Sayville, American

Ting Restaurant (631) 425-7788  Suffolk – Huntington, Asian

Verace  (631) 277-3800  Suffolk – Islip, Italian

View Restaurant  (631) 589-2694  Suffolk – Oakdale, Seafood

Vittorio’s Italian Steakhouse (631) 264-3333  Suffolk – Amityville, Steakhouse

Wave Steakhouse and Seafood (631) 928-5200  Suffolk – Port Jefferson, American

Whalers (631) 647-9300 Suffolk – Bayshore, New American

Long Island Restaurant Week is a tri-annual event designed to garner positive publicity and additional business for the region’s restaurants. Since 2006, it has been an annual November promotion until the first spring Long Island Restaurant Week was launched in April 2011 and then winter was added in January of 2016, due to popular customer and restaurateur demand.  Don’t miss out, get out and be a part of this popular event!

 

Bellport High School Robotics Team Attends First LI TECH Challenge Qualifier 3642

Bellport High School’s Bellport Clippers Team 12899 participated in the FIRST Long Island TECH Challenge qualifier, a robotics competition, held at William Floyd High School on Jan. 11. Under the direction of high school technology teacher Jaime Canjura and alumnus Brian Larkin, the 11-member robotics team competed against 21 Long Island teams from Suffolk and Nassau counties.

FIRST Tech Challenge teams are challenged to design, build, program and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge each year. The team’s next competition will be held on Feb. 2 at the Long Island School for The Gifted in Huntington.

Since the 2018-19 school year, the team has doubled in size and hopes to continue growing due to the interest of incoming eighth grade students participating in the Bellport Middle School FIRST Lego League.

“The team’s philosophy is to inspire students to be and do their best,” Mr. Canjura explained. “We follow the concept of Gracious Professionalism, a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community.”

The South Country Central School District extends team members Joseph Balsamo (lead software engineer and programmer), Jake D’Esposito (programmer and IT), Robert Gronenthal (secretary and robot chassis designer), Isaiah James (team president and lead designer), Chris Lannon, Thomas Miller (treasurer), Ainesis Reid (media, marketing and programming), Soteria Reid (media and marketing specialist), Antonio Suarez (mechanical hardware technician and designer trainee), Jack Stark (mechanical hardware technician and designer trainee) and Michael Vengroski (team captain and lead designer) best wishes for success.

Photo caption: Members of Bellport High School’s Bellport Clippers Team 12899 held their robot designed for the FIRST robotics competitions.

Photo courtesy of the South Country Central School District

 

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