Saints, Pubs, and Romance: Three Things That Make a Great Date!

For today’s Writer Wednesdays post, we’re discussing our favorite ideas for romantic dates (because apparently romance writers are supposed to know all about these things!)

For me, instead of going to Home Depot to pick out medicine cabinets and towel racks while the kids are stuck in their all-day SAT Prep course, I want to head west to the Hunters Head Tavern in Upperville, VA. Especially in winter when the fireplaces in the eighteenth-century log cabin are kept roaring to keep out the bitter cold.

The pub offers standard fare with a twist — all the meals are farm-to-table with the freshest meats and vegetables. And they have awesome desserts! So my perfect date includes my wonderful husband, our favorite pub, and pints of Guinness on a cold February night. It doesn’t get more romantic than that!

Since that’s probably my shortest post ever, I’m going to add a blurb about why I love Valentine’s Day. It has nothing to do with chocolate or cards or expensive presents, and everything to do with the man himself.

A courageous Bishop known as St. Valentine.

Born during the reign of Claudius II, a Roman Emperor who hated and persecuted early Christians, St. Valentine was an early Bishop who married young couples in Christian ceremonies in flagrant violation of Claudius II’s edicts. Since Claudius II believed his soldiers fought better without wives or families, and he hated Christianity, he had St. Valentine arrested.

 

Turns out St. Valentine had also been marrying couples right before they were martyred and had been aiding the Christian families of those left behind. Enraged, Claudius II told St. Valentine to renounce his faith or be martyred. After St. Valentine gave a forceful “No“, Claudius II had St. Valentine beaten with clubs and beheaded outside the Flaminian Gates in Rome on February 14, 269 AD (approx year).

According to legend, two days before his execution, St. Valentine miraculously healed the jailor’s blind daughter and on the day of his death left her a letter signed “your Valentine“.

Sometime between the years 492 and 496 AD, the date February 14 was chosen to replace the February 15 pagan feast known as Lupercalia, a day set aside to worship the pagan god Lupercus. On this day, young Roman men would draw the names of young women whom they would then keep for a year as their sexual companions.

Pope Gelasius I, not happy with this annual event, came up with a new lottery. On February 14, young people would choose the name of a Christian saint whose example they would try to emulate throughout the year. But since young men still hoped to seduce young women by sending them handwritten notes, the Pope elected Saint Valentine to be the patron saint of the day. Hence the custom of sending cards from “your Valentine“.

Now I’d love to know if you have a favorite romantic date or have any Valentine’s Day traditions you’d like to share!

Thank your for spending the day with us. Below is a link of my Golden Heart sisters who are participating in today’s blog party. Hope to see you next month!

Contemporary Romance: Tamra Baumann – Priscilla Oliveras – Shelly Alexander | Paranormal romance: Kay Hudson | Romantic suspense: Sharon Wray | Novels with Romantic Elements: Jean Willett | Faith-based & Sweet: KD Fleming | Historical romance: Wendy LaCapra

All photographs courtesy of Sharon Wray. Copyright 2016.