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.