Friday, 13 February 2026

Valentino is Greek

 Happy Valentines.......which all began on the slopes of Mount Lykaia (Wolf Mountain) here in Arcadia many eons ago.  The celebration took place at night and Pan joined in with his nymphs, dancing and 'frolicking' to the music of his magic flute  

Ancient Greek colonists brought the festival to the banks of the Tiber where it turned into a wild fertility festival. 

Later Christians tidied it up and turned it into a celebration of sweetness and love. 

One of the Catholic Popes decided the feast of St Valentine would be celebrated on 14th February. And then, who knows...........

The Orthodox church celebrates St Valentine in July.  He has nothing to do with love and romance or chocolate bonbons.

The mythical Greek gods and goddesses of love are Eros (Cupid) who shoots his deadly darts straight to the heart and Aphrodite, Goddess of love and beauty 

We all know what Valentines Day is today. Nothing to do with saints and everything to do with chocolates, red roses and romantic dinners.

 We shall eat leftover meat and salad. I shall buy him some galaktobouriko (cream pie in syrup) and we shall drink wine from a plastic bottle.






Saturday of  Souls

This year  the Saturday of  Souls in the Orthodox church also falls on February 14th




K has lit a candle for the repose of his dear departed and our friendly ghost Barba Lazaros. 
 
Others may be preparing koliva, funeral wheat, to be blessed or having a priest perform a memorial prayer over the family graves.  The koliva is handed out after today's church service.  It is made of boiled wheat, raisins, sugar, pomegranate seeds and nuts and is delicious. 

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8 comments:

  1. JayCee14 February 2026 at 00:19

    I had forgotten it was Valentines Day until I read this.
    We'll have to drink wine tonight!

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  2. Tigger's Mum14 February 2026 at 01:11

    Our Valentines Day went as any other around here these days. Bother. On holiday in Chathams from Tuesday - maybe we can find some romance on that remote windswept place.🤔

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    Replies
    1. local alien14 February 2026 at 03:48

      We are descendants of German missionaries who went out to the Chathams before coming to NZ. If you see the name Baucke, and apparently there are dozens of them, they're my cousins many times removed.
      Enjoy your holiday. Somewhere different!

      Delete
  3. jabblog14 February 2026 at 04:55

    Whatever you drink, wherever, and with whomever, enjoy. I like the candle for the repose of the dear departed.

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  4. angela14 February 2026 at 20:32

    Of course Greeks invented Valentine’s Day. We invent everything.
    Valentine’s Day has become, like most days, a capitalist frenzy consumer day.
    Your day sounds just perfect to me.

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  5. kiwikid14 February 2026 at 21:33

    Love hearing about the Greek customs and folklore. Enjoy your wine.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's a Crazy World15 February 2026 at 12:18

    I do love koliva (with the exception of the gooey, sugary koliva someone made for Saturday of Souls). I didn't make any for yesterday, but a goodly number of faithful did. I had a nice half a ziploc bag to take home with me.
    I enjoyed reading all about Valentine's Day!

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