Tag: valentine's day

My Ode to Romance – Happy Valentine’s Day

Make this day special…

#14 of 14

Valentine’s Day

What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?

Books, Old, Romance, Literature, Used, Historically

 It is universally known as a day when couples celebrate their love.  But for others this day is a day to show kindness and compassion. 

Sharing a friendly word or doing simple acts of kindness is the key. 

For example: making that extra run to the grocery store for a family member or neighbour, holding a door for someone coming up behind, nodding a hello, making a call to an old friend or going down memory lane with a sweet smile by yourself, makes all the difference.  Make this day special for others or just for yourself. 

Happy Valentine’s Day.

“Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Song of Solomon 2 verse 10

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

Eat, drink and be merry.

13 of 14 The Origins of Valentine’s Day

Anthonis van Dyck 001.jpg
Cupid and Psyche – Anthony Van Dyck

February 14th was first a pagan feast day which was later changed by Pope Gelasius 1 in AD 496 to a Christian feast day to honour Valentine. There are many legends surrounding this day claiming Saint Valentine as a priest who was martyred in AD 269 for his kindness and love to the persecuted Christians in Rome. Then later in the 14th and 15th centuries, Valentine’s Day became associated with romantic love.

“Because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry.”  Ecclesiastes 8 verse 15

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

love suffers long and is kind

12 of 14 Characteristics of Love

Love suffers long and is kind;

Love envies not;

Love vaunteth( boasted about) not itself;

Is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not

Her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity,

But rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,

Endureth all things.

Love never fails. ( 1 Corinthians 13 verse 4 to 8)

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

The 5 Love Languages

#11 of 14 Touch

Physical touch – being close to and caressed by your partner (Gary Chapman’s 5 Love Languages) Romantically, touch is a way of giving and receiving love.

Touch is a fundamental form of non–visual perception, one that plays a crucial role in nearly all of our sensory experiences (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 2021)

“Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn my beloved.” Song of Solomon 2 verse 17a

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

I am my beloved’s and his desire is toward me

#10 of 14 My Favorite Love Poems

“I am my beloved’s and his desire is toward me” – Song of Solomon 7 verse 10

“Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments.  Love is not love which alters when it alternations finds” – William Shakespeare (Sonnet 116)

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.  I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning (Sonnet 43)

“Grow old along with me the best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made” – Robert Browning

“O my Luve is like a red, red rose that’s newly sprung in June; O my Luve is like the melody that’s sweetly played in tune” – Robert Burns

“Drink to me only with thine eyes and I will pledge with mine or leave a kiss within the cup, and I’ll not ask for wine” – Ben Jonson 1616

“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave” Song of Solomon 8 verse 6

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

setting a romantic mood to a memorable evening.

#9 of 14 Setting the Mood

Setting a romantic mood to a memorable evening can consist of wine, chocolate and candlelight. All three of these items separately or together make an evening light and full of love.  Wine brings a couple joy as they set aside time together.  Chocolate is a natural sex enhancer as it promotes blood flow to the sexual organs, increases sensation, satisfaction and desire because it contains a certain amino acid called L-arginine. Candlelight or dim lighting dilates the pupils very similar to the reaction experienced when two people are attracted to each other.  

“but I found him whom soul loveth; I held him, and would not let him go.” Song of Solomon 3 verse 4

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

Whispering sweet nothings…

#8 of 14 Sweet Nothings

Be Mine Tote Bag With Red Flower Petals

Couples in love speak a special language, called Sweet Nothings.  The whisperings of love and romantic talk to each other.  Sweet nothings was first noted in a poem by English novelist Mary Elizabeth Braddon in 1776, “as low he bend o’er her he loves so dear, to whisper some sweet nothing in her ear.”

“…it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh,” Song of Solomon 5 verse 2 

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

Many waters cannot quench love

#7 of 14 Love

Ophelia

Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure.[1][2] An example of this range of meanings is that the love of a mother differs from the love of a spouse, which differs from the love of food. Most commonly, love refers to a feeling of strong attraction and emotional attachment.[3] (Wikipedia.org 2021)

“Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it.” Song of Solomon 8 verse 7

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

Attraction means a person or thing that draws, allures

#6 of 14 Attraction

Romantically speaking, a person can be attracted to another person by the way they look, how they move, how they smell, what they say and even how they say it. For example, when meeting someone for the first time, the senses are immediately invoked and heightened, leading to the creation of either a positive or negative assessment. 

Attraction means a person or thing that draws, allures or entices and scientifically speaking, there is such a thing as an magnetic force where opposites attract.

“Draw me, we will run after thee.” Song of Solomon 1 verse 4

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.

#5 of 14 The Love Song

Troubadour’ Entry – Jakob Emanuel Gaisser

Love songs express the emotions felt by the writer or singer to the one they love.  One such song can be found in Song of Solomon ( 22nd book of the Bible)

Also called Canticle of canticles.  It is a song or a chant known to be written by King Solomon approximately 930 BC of the old testament Bible.  The song tells of simple love between a husband and his wife, emotionally, spiritually and physically.  Metaphorically speaking it is also a relationship between Christ and his bride, the Church. 

“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” Song of Solomon 6 verse 3