A Brief History of Valentine’s Day

 Everyone knows that Valentine’s Day is a special day for love, friendship, sweethearts, pretty cards and flowers, but no one knows exactly how or why it got started. One legend has it that birds choose their mates on Valentine’s Day. Another common myth says that it is celebrated in memory of a Christian martyr named Valentine. He was imprisoned by the Romans in about A.D. 270 because he would not give up his Christian beliefs. Prior to his execution, he wrote a note to the daughter of his jailer and signed it, “Your Valentine.” He was later made a saint, and sometimes Valentine’s Day is called St. Valentine’s Day. Today it is one of the most widely celebrated unofficial holidays, and a day to let your sweetheart, parents, relatives and friends know how much you love them.

Photo Valentine Craft

Make one each year and your child’s grandparents will have a collection of special valentines to save and compare.

    • Red construction paper or posterboard
    • Decorations – lace, puff-paint, etc.
    • Glue
    • Child’s picture

 Make a heart out of red construction paper or posterboard, and cut a circle or smaller heart shape from the middle. (You may want to use newspaper to cut the pattern first.) Have the child decorate the Valentine for their grandparents by gluing lace around the outer edge, drawing hearts or Cupids, and writing a message with puff paint. Glue the child’s picture on the back side so that it shows through the smaller heart cutout.

Another idea is to decorate a large red heart with a hole in the center, large enough for the child’s face to show through. Take a picture and send to grandparents.
 

Super Kiss Treat

• Ingredients and Supplies:
  • 1 cube butter or margarine
  • 1 (16-ounce) package miniature marshmallows
  • 12 cups regular or chocolate crispy rice cereal
  • Large buttered plastic funnels (Tupperware works well)
  • Cookie sheet, plastic wrap, ribbon, and toothpicks
• Steps to Create:
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add marshmallows and stir until melted.
  • Remove from heat, mix in cereal, and stir until well coated.
  • Butter your fingers and press the warm mixture into buttered funnels.
  • Place the filled funnels on a cookie sheet to cool.
  • Once cooled, unmold and wrap in plastic wrap.
  • Add a ribbon and a Valentine’s Day flag attached to a toothpick.