Valentine's Day

Exclusive to THE BACK BAY SUN

VALENTINE’S DAY, Saturday, February 14, 2009

According to church tradition St. Valentine was a priest near Rome in about the year 270 A.D. At that time the Roman Emperor Claudius-II had issued an edict forbidding marriage.

When Claudius became the emperor, he felt that married men were more emotionally attached to their families, and thus, would not make good soldiers.

So to assure quality soldiers, he banned marriage. Valentine, a bishop, seeing the trauma of young lovers, met them in a secret place, and joined them in the sacrament of matrimony. Claudius learned of this "friend of lovers," and had him arrested.

The emperor, impressed with the young priest's dignity and conviction, attempted to convert him to the Roman gods, to save him from certain execution.

Valentine refused to recognize Roman Gods and even attempted to convert the emperor, knowing the consequences fully. On February 24, 270, Valentine was executed.While Valentine was in prison awaiting his fate, he came in contact with his jailor, Asterius. The jailor had a blind daughter. Asterius requested him to heal his daughter. Through his faith he miraculously restored the sight of Asterius' daughter. Just before his execution, he asked for a pen and paper from his jailor, and signed a farewell message to her "From Your Valentine," a phrase that lived ever after.Valentine thus became a Patron Saint, and spiritual overseer of an annual festival. The festival involved young Romans offering women they admired, and wished to court, handwritten greetings of affection on February 14. The greeting cards acquired St.Valentine's name.The Valentine's Day card tradition spread with Christianity, and is now celebrated all over the world. One of the earliest cards was sent in 1415 by Charles, duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was a prisoner in the Tower of London.


In the United States, the first mass-produced valentines of embossed paper lace were produced and sold shortly after 1847 by Esther Howland (1828-1904) of Worcester, Massachusetts.

The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.

Here are some very special places to celebrate VALENTINE’S DAY in Boston

TOP OF THE HUB, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 15th
$250 per couple, beverages, tax and gratuity not included
Live entertainment.

The Menu

Kama Sutra
Tempura Oysters, Tomatillo Sauce, Creamy Masa, Pico De Gallo
Or
Pastry Quiver Full of Cupids Arrows
Poached Asparagus Wrapped in Black Forest Ham, Baked Puff Pastry & Cheese Fondue, Rosewater Hollandaise
Or
Love Potion #9
Champagne & Mussel Soup, Caviar Cream

* * *
*Cuban Coffee Cocoa Rubbed Pork Tenderloin
Slow Roasted Pineapple, Star Anise Vanilla Bean Compote, Pasilla Banana Mole Sauce
Or
Rosemary Scented Rack of Lamb
Celery Root & Sweetheart Potatoes Gratin, Honey Glazed Baby Carrots, Pomegranate Gastrique
Or
*Grilled Beef Tenderloin
Winter Black Truffle & Goat Cheese Soufflé, Braised Artichoke, Bordelaise Sauce & Mustard Cream
Or
*Pan Seared Salmon
Red wine Risotto, Parmesan Broth, Nasturtium Butter, Haricot Verts

* * *
Rocket Arugula
Spiced Spanish Almond Sweet 100’s, Stilton Cheese, Jerez Tomato Vinaigrette

* * *
Raspberry Chocolate Cake
Cherry Brandy Truffle, Godiva White Chocolate Sauce, Cherry Coulis

Other places to celebrate VALENTINE’S DAY in Boston include AVILA, BAMBARA, BEACON HILL HOTEL & BISTRO, BEEHIVE, BRICCO, Café Fleuri, LANGHAM HOTEL, DAVIO’S, HAMERSLEY’S BISTRO, PERSEPHONE, RADIUS, SAGE, SEL DE LA TERRE, TARANTA, TURNER FISHERIES, UNION and the FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA HOTEL.

CPL

C. Paul Luongo is the President of C. Paul Luongo Company,
Public Relations & Marketing, Boston