Valentine's Day 2016

Times Community Newspapers, Wednesday, February 10, 206

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VALENTINE’S DAY

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Times Community Newspapers, Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Cupid’s connection to love H

earts tend to be aflutter on Valentine’s Day, and Cupid just might be the scoundrel behind those starry-eyed feelings. Just who is this arrow-wielding Cupid and how did he become associated with Valentine’s Day?

God of love and desire

Ancient Greeks and Romans were prolific storytellers and used mythology to explain many of the mysteries of life.

Certain feelings and happenings on Earth were attributed to the moods and actions of Gods who presided over the people.

In Roman mythology, Cupid was the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. His Greek counterpart was Eros, while in Latin Cupid was known as Amor. According to myth, Cupid was the son of the winged messenger Mercury and Venus, the goddess of love.

Cupid’s machinations were often guided by his mother’s hand, and matchmaking remained his most well-known trait.

As time went on and Christian influences pushed out ancient Greek and Roman beliefs, Cupid was seen as an angel of heavenly and earthly love. Cupid could easily be mistaken for many other angelic cherubim portrayed in artwork during the Renaissance period. Eventually Cupid became a popular icon of Valentine’s Day.

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Cupid’s appearance

Cupid has appeared in different ways in illustrations and other artwork throughout history. Sometimes he is depicted as a winged, chubby infant carrying a bow and a quiver of arrows. Classical Greek art depicts Cupid as a slender, winged youth.

The reason Cupid has wings is because lovers are known to be flighty and change their moods and minds with some frequency. He is boyish because love is irrational, and he carries arrows and a torch because love can both wound but also inflame the heart.

Cupid has traditionally been portrayed as benevolent, if not mischievous. After all, his goal is to bring two lovers together. His arsenal was equipped with two different kinds of arrows. People pierced by gold-tipped arrows would succumb to uncontrollable desire. Those afflicted by an arrow with a blunt tip of lead desired only to flee.

“Cupid and Psyche”

Cupid may have been responsible for bringing many people together with his special arrows, but he also was granted the opportunity to experience love himself. According to the myth of “Cupid and Psyche,” Psyche was a beautiful woman

Did you know?

alentine’s Day is a time when men and women express their love and affection for one another, which can be accomplished in a variety of ways. For many celebrants, food and beverages are part of the festivities. According to the USDA and Gallup, in the United States Valentine’s Day is the bubbliest occasion after New Year’s Eve and Thanksgiving.

That’s because around $9 million is spent on sparkling wine products. What pairs well with that bubbly? Why chocolate, of course. Fifty-eight million pounds of chocolate candy is pur-

chased during the week of Valentine’s Day, when the National Confectioners Association says 36 million heartshaped boxes of chocolate are sold.

“Love” is a powerful word that describes one of the most potent human emotions. The word is believed to have evolved from the ProtoIndo-European’s word “leubh,” which described care and desire nearly five thousand years ago. The word was incorporated into Old English as “lufu,” a noun meaning “deep affection” and a verb “lufian” meaning “to be very fond of.”

whose appearance rivaled even that of Venus. People grew enchanted by her beauty and started to neglect the worship of Venus. Jealous of this attention, Venus asked Cupid to make Psyche fall in love with a monster. But when Cupid saw how beautiful Psyche was, he accidentally dropped the arrow meant for her and pricked himself instead. He immediately became enamored with her.

Psyche, who had not been able to marry like her other sisters, feared she had been cursed by the gods in some way. She was sent away to avoid the premonition of marrying a monster, but Cupid, hid-

den from sight, ended up visiting Psyche and gaining her trust and affection. The pair then married, although Psyche had never seen her husband in the light of day because he forbade her to look upon him. After all, he was a god and she was a mortal.

One night Psyche disobeyed Cupid’s edict and snuck a peek by candlelight. She was amazed by his beauty and became startled, wounding herself on one of his arrows. Psyche ended up dropping hot wax on Cupid, which woke him up and he ran off.

Psyche wandered endlessly trying to find her lost husband and had to go through various trials established by a still-jealous Venus. In one of her trials, she ended up getting put to sleep, but Cupid revived her and pleaded with Jupiter to make Psyche immortal and let her be his true wife. Jupiter ultimately granted that wish.

Cupid will forever be connected to the concepts of love and affection, which is why he has become an unofficial symbol of Valentine’s Day.

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Times Community Newspapers, Wednesday, February 10, 206

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Valentine’s Day flowers can go beyond roses

alentine’s Day is a great day for florists. According to the National Retail Federation, Valentine’s Day is the No. 1 holiday for florists, as 40 percent of the holiday’s dollar volume goes toward the purchase of fresh flowers.

Red roses make for popular Valentine’s gifts. Red is a symbol of love and passion, and red roses have become synonymous with Valentine’s Day. Come February 14, more than half of men and women will shop for red roses, followed by roses of other colors, such as pink, white and mixed colored bouquets. Roses are a failsafe choice, and many men tend to feel comfortable purchasing roses. That isn’t to say other flowers do not make great gifts. A bouquet or vase full of any of the following types of flowers can be unexpected and unique. · Orchids: Orchids have traditionally been associated with love and beauty.

Since orchids look exotic and come in various colors with bold scents, they make a romantic Valentine’s Day gift. Delicate and alluring, orchids are pretty robust plants that grow all over the world. Cut orchids may even last longer than roses. · French Tulips: French tulips are much larger than typical tulips, so they can look impressive in a floral arrange-

Is a Valentine’s Day wedding right for you?

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alentine’s Day evokes strong emotions in so many people. On the official day of all things love, many eagerly anticipate the chance to spend time with their sweethearts.

Couples who already have hearts in

ment. What’s more, French tulip stems continue to grow in the water even after being cut, according to floral industry experts. The stems may twist together in vases, providing something new to see each day. · Hydrangeas: These big, dense balls of flowers are the pom-poms of the floral world. Thanks to the wide array of colors and impressive number of blooms on each plant, they can result in more budget-friendly bouquets than roses and still provide some eye-catching colors. · Gerbera Daisies: One can’t help but smile at these large and vividly colored blooms. They quickly fill up a vase and can look so pristine a person may actually think they’re silk. A bouquet of deep pinks can be a thoughtful Valentine’s Day offering. · Mixed bouquets: Mixed bouquets enable shoppers to put together several different flowers and get the most bang for their buck. For a cohesive look, ask the florist to stick to one specific color.

Purple flowers look regal and may be even more impactful than red roses.

Flowers will always be popular on Valentine’s Day, but celebrants need not feel tethered to roses when giving their significant others flowers. their eyes and are enamored with all things Valentine’s Day may want to tie the knot on this special holiday, and few can argue when a couple decides to become husband and wife on this day devoted to love and affection.

Valentine’s Day is a popular day to tie the knot, as more than two million people choose February 14 to walk down the aisle in the United States alone.

Valentine’s Day is an easy day to remember, meaning it will be hard for husbands and wives to forget their wedding anniversaries.

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Another benefit to getting married on Valentine’s Day is the ambiance may already be taken care of by various establishments in the community. Reception halls may be embellished with flowers, balloons and other de^acor, while businesses may already be displaying hearts in their windows and twinkling pink, red and white lights for Valentine’s-focused customers.

Couples who may not know which colors to choose for their wedding parties and table linens can just go with the colors and themes of Valentine’s Day if they

decide to tie the knot on February 14.

Chocolate brown, red, lavender, and pink are primary hues for the season, and any combination will complement the festivities and ceremony - whether they’re the color of the napkins or making up the bouquet.

Valentine’s Day treats and trinkets make for great wedding favors. Guests can take home individual boxes of chocolates or crystal candle votives, while buffet dessert tables can be embellished with vases filled with chocolate kisses or candied hearts.

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Times Community Newspapers, Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Frugal ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day Short on cash after the holidays?

These clever tips will keep you out of the red!

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day set aside to shower a loved one with gifts and touching words of affection, Valentine’s Day brightens the often gloomy month of February.

Established centuries ago with origins shrouded in mystery, Valentine’s Day has evolved into one of the most popular - and expensive - days of the year. Many couples celebrate Valentine’s Day with cards, gifts and nights out on the town, and such celebrations can stretch budgets.

Coming on the heels of post-holiday bills, Valentine’s Day can feel like a costly prospect. Yet, even those on a budget can enjoy a special day to remember without breaking the bank. The following are several frugal ways to enjoy Valentine’s Day.

· Create your own greeting card. It can be challenging to find cards that offer just the right sentiments. Sometimes cards seem distant, too risque^a or overly sentimental. Instead, create your own card.

Find a decorative blank card or make one from card stock. Search through your digital photos and print one of the two of you together. Glue on a paper heart border, and then jot down some affectionate sentiments.

· Cleverly wrap favorite chocolate.

Chocolate is synonymous with Valentine’s Day, and it’s easy to spend a lot on gourmet chocolates without even knowing if your valentine will like what’s inside the box.

Stick to what you know he or she likes, even if it’s a simple chocolate bar from a convenience store. Buy a few and then wrap them in a fancy box with ribbon. · Go out for a small bite to eat. If you’re concerned about the cost of an expensive dinner out or anticipate being restricted to a certain menu, plan to dine at home. You can opt to go out for cocktails prior or head to a cafe^a for dessert and cappuccino afterward. This way you’ll still get the experience of going out without being forced to overspend. · Purchase a rosebush. Bouquets of roses are traditional gifts for Valentine’s Day. However, thanks to the increased demand, the cost of roses tends to increase as Valentine’s Day draws nearer. If you want to save money but still give roses, buy a plant that blooms each year. Buy a rosebush and plan to put it in the garden come spring when all danger of frost is gone. · Turn older jewelry new again.

Diamonds and other jewelry can be costly.

If a new piece simply isn’t in the budget, consider repurposing an older piece of jewelry that isn’t worn as often. It’s amazing what a new setting on a ring can look like or how stones on a seldom-used necklace can be turned into fashionable stud earrings. If you have a good amount of mismatched gold jewelery lying around, you may be able to sell it or have it melted down and turned into a beautiful new creation.