{"id":11438,"date":"2021-02-12T19:56:43","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T19:56:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/?p=11438"},"modified":"2021-03-17T20:55:24","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T20:55:24","slug":"la-fheile-valintin-shona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/la-fheile-valintin-shona\/","title":{"rendered":"L\u00e1 Fh\u00e9ile Valint\u00edn Shona"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dia daoibh!<\/em><\/p>\n

It is L\u00e1 Fh\u00e9ile Vailint\u00edn<\/em> on February 14th!<\/p>\n

There are many stories and traditions linked to Valentine’s day, from both Ancient Rome to more recent modern Christianity. The most popular story is about St. Valentin of Rome, a widely recognized 3rd century Roman patron saint of love.<\/p>\n

He would allegedly cut hearts out of parchment paper and distribute them to persecuted Christians to remind them of God\u2019s love. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine\u2019s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.<\/p>\n

In prison awaiting execution, legend states that St. Valentine cured a jailer’s daughter of blindness. He may have even fallen in love himself, since before his death he wrote the first ‘Valentine’s Day’ card to the young woman signing it \u201cYour Valentine,\u201d an expression that is still in use today.<\/p>\n

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Photo from Pixabay, CCO.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Irish celebrate this day similarly as we do, showing their love through gifts, chocolates, and flowers. If you want to celebrate it in a very Irish way though, below I have shared a poem from the Irish poet William Butler Yeats, as well as some Irish expressions.<\/p>\n

You could also get your loved one a Claddagh ring, which originated in the village of Claddagh in Galway back in the 18th century.<\/p>\n

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Photo from Pixabay, CCO.<\/p><\/div>\n

The ring\u2019s design is a heart held by two hands with a crown on top, and each element has a specific meaning.<\/p>\n

The heart symbolises love, the hands friendship, and the crown loyalty. In other words, the most important elements of any successful relationship and the perfect gesture for your Irish Valentine!<\/p>\n

How you wear the ring is supposed to communicate your relationship status. Irish author Colin Murphy dictates the following rules for wearing the Claddagh ring:<\/p>\n