The Huron Expositor, 1997-02-12, Page 5e roots ofValentine 'sr Day
Strange
O
Back in the days when the
average woman stood five
feet tall, weighed under 100
pounds and consumed much
less sugar than we do today
the sudden intake of sugar,
fat and caffeine found in
chocolate could indeed cause
quite a rush! In fact virtuous
young women would never
accept chocolate from suitors
for fear of tarnishing their
reputation. Thank goodness
this no longer holds true or
I'd have quite a reputation
indeed!
So if winter has you down
in the dumps here's hoping
'Stupid Cupid' will have you
in his sights this February
14th! And to my own special
'Mistah' - Happy Valentine's
Day!
If you're like most of us the
rotten winter weather proba-
bly has you feeling more
riled than romantic. But take
heart! Valentine's Day is fast
approaching and if you allow
yourself to the sentiments of
the occasion it might lift your
spirits enough to make it
through the remainder of the
winter.
There are many theories of
where Valentine's Dayorigi-
nated. One of the more pop-
ular ones is from ancient
Rome. It is believed that
February 14 was a holiday to
honor Juno, the Queen of
Roman Gods and Goddesses.
She was also recognized as
the Goddess of women and
marriage, which may be why
Valentine's Day became a
day dedicated to proposals of
love and marriage.
On this day Roman chil-
dren, usually kcpt strictly
separate, would be brought
together. The young men
would draw a girl's name
from a vase and the pair
would be allowed to dance
and play together during the
festivities that followed. A
similar ceremony was enact-
ed during the medieval days
in England and the young
man would be bound by
hontlr to wear the maiden's
name on his sleeve for a year,
it being his duty to attend and
protect her. Frequently these
pairings led to marriage.
This may have been the fes-
tival that was later to be
named after Saint Valentine.
It is believed that he was a
priest during the reign of
Claudius of Rome. It seems
Claudius was having difficul-
ty getting his amorous sol-
diers to leave their wives and
sweethearts and go off to
fight so he 'tecrced that no
marriages may be celebrated
and all engagements
denounced.
Municipalities
to pick up child
care program
costs
Dear Editor:
Provincial Legislation
announced January 14 by
Community and Social
Services Minister Janet Ecker
will require municipalities to
pick up millions of dollars in
additional costs for social
services and child care pro-
grams.
This is not an issue that
affects only the big cities!
This has an enormous impact
on our families living in
Seaforth and surrounding
areas!
The bill now before the leg-
islature will have municipali-
ties pick up half the cost of
the provincial child care bud-
get. Spending on child care
is now optional for munici-
palities. Under new legisla-
tion it will he mandatory.
Currently some municipali-
ties cost share child care sub-
sidies, paying 20 per cent
while the province pays 80
per cent. Under the new law
municipalities will not only
be responsible for a 50 per
cent share of subsidy costs,
but are also expected to
assume 50 per cent of staff
wage subsidies, family
resource centres, funding for
children with special needs
and the full cost of licensing
child care programs. These
Latter costs are now totally
funded by the government.
Under the series of hills,
announced over the week of
January 13, the province
assumes ihe cost of educa-
tion, taking it off municipal
property tax while the munic-
ipalities take on greater or
total costs of welfare, child
care, public health, housing,
police, transportation,
libraries, water and sewage,
and policing.
These new funding arrange-
ments are to take affect
January 1, 1998. How can
our municipalities plan for
the funding of such vast and
vital programs? Making sure
that every child grows up in a
safe, stable, healthy and nur-
turing environment is a
CONTINUED on page 6
Guest Column
by Patricia).
Griffiths
Valentine, finding this rul-
ing unjust, secretly per—
formed marriages anyway.
He was captured and impris-
oned for his insolence where
he languished and died.
Legend says that his devoted
followers buried him in the
church of St. Praxedes on the
fourteenth of February, 270
AD.
Another legend of the Saint
of Romance is that he was a
Christian in Rome during the
era when this religion was
illegal. He was cast into jail
for supporting the Christian
cause. While imprisoned he
is supposed to have cured the
keeper's daughter of blind-
ness. Fearful this might give
Valentine an even greater fol-
lowing the Roman leaders
gave immediate orders to
have him beheaded. He is
supposed to have sent the
keeper's daughter a farewell
note on the date of his execu-
tion signed, "From your
Valentine." Hence, our tradi-
tion of sending "Valentines."
There are many theories
explaining how February 14
came to be associated with
expressions of love and
romance. Documented proof
shows the first paper valen-
tines date back to the 15(X)'s
when the young French man
Duc d'Orleans was captured
in battle with the English and
kept a prisoner in the Tower
of London for years. While
imprisoned he wrote a series
of love poems to his wife,
sixty of which are still dis-
played among the royal
papers in the British
Museum.
I'm not sure where the cus-
tom of giving chocolate
comes from. I strongly sus-
pect that it has something to
do with its reputation for
being an aphrodisiac.
Chocolate really does contain
mood altering chemicals, one
of which is phenylethy-
!amine. This tongue -tripping
chemical is what causes the
sweaty palmed, weak-kneed
effect so common to lovers.
Nothing Says
'1 Love You"
Like
Flowers
Give your
Sweetheart
nature's
valentine this
year. Choose a
breathtaking
bouquet, an
adorable teddy
bear or a stunning
single flower.
CALL
TODAY 527-0555
ildebrand
Flowers and Gifts
Main St., Seaforth
TIM some =Poe/T+OII" Pei/wain/ 11„ 1907-11
P
NAL
TAX RETURNS
One Fee: '20.00
Call
PETER STILES
4 John et-
BAYFIELD
565-2346
McLaughlin
Chev-Olds Ltd.
13 Win St. Solotflh. 527-1140
•Seto. •Selection► .Savings
• bfaclion •LMeing
BODY SHOP Service
Kelly Auto Service
26 Birch St., SEAFORTH 527-2210
40,
CANADIAN TIRE MUFFLER
WARRANTIES ACCEPTED
•Complete Automotive Repair
024 Hour Towing
*Full Collision and Body Shop
527-2210 After hrs. Towing 522-2122
THE HURON -PERTH COUNTY
ROMAN CATHOLIC SEPARATE
SCHOOL BOARD
JUNIOR AND SENIOR
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
February 17 to February 21, 1997
In order to register for Kindergarten, children must be four (4) years of
age on or before December 31, 1997. Parents are required to bring
the Baptismal Certificate, Birth Certificate and Immunization Record
Card of the child you intend to register. Parents should contact their
local school. The following schools offer Kindergarten classes:
St. Joseph's (Kingsbridge) St. Patrick's (Dublin)
529-7646 345-2033
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel St. Patrick's (Kinkora)
(Mt. Carmel) 237-3337 393-5580
St. Joseph's (Clinton) Holy Name at Mary
482-7035 (St. Marys) 284-2170
Precious Blood (Exeter) St. Mary's (Hesson)
235-1691 595-8928
St. Mary's (Goderich) St. Ambrose (Stratford)
271-7544
St. Joseph's (Stratford)
271-3574
St. Aloysius (Stratford)
271-3636
Jeanne Sauve (Stratford)
273-3396
524-9901
St. James (Seaforth)
527-0321
St. Boniface (Zurich)
236-4335
Sacred Heart (Wingham)
357-1090
Parents who expect that their child will .enrol in the optional French
Immersion Program in Grade 1, in future years, have the option of
enrolment for Junior/Senior Kindergarten at either their local Catholic
School or the French Immersion Centre (St. Marys School, Goderich
or Jeanne Sauve 'School, Stratford) at which they expect to enrol their
child for a French Immersion Program.
M. Miller J.S. Brown, M.A., Ed.O.,
Chairperson of the Board Director of Education
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