Valentine’s Day is rooted in pagan partying.  The lover’s holiday traces it roots to Roman Festivals where men stripped naked, grabbed whips and spanked young maidens in hopes of increasing their fertility.

The annual pagan celebration, called Lupercalia, was held every year on February 15 and remained wildly popular well into the fifth century A.D.—at least 150 years after Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.

“It is clearly a very popular thing, even in an environment where the [ancient] Christians are trying to close it down,” Lenski said. “So there’s reason to think that the Christians might instead have said, OK, we’ll just call this a Christian festival.”

The church pegged the festival to the legend of St. Valentine.

According to the story, in the third century A.D. Roman Emperor Claudius II, seeking to bolster his army, forbade young men to marry. Valentine, it is said, flouted the ban, performing marriages in secret.

For his defiance, Valentine was executed in A.D. 270—on February 14, the story goes. 

For this Valentine’s Day we can offer your significant other several natural body and bath products.  Our elegant handmade decorator soaps shaped in hearts comes gift packaged in a gold box with a special saying, “Hearts for You.”

Made from our Shea Butter formula full of all kinds of good oils for your skin, it is a gift one would be welcomed to receive.  Add in some elegant bath salts, or massage oil and you can have a beautiful gift set custom made for your Valentine’s Day gift.  It is never too late.  We can still ship in time for Valentine’s Day delivery.  Please visit our online store today, you will be glad your did and your skin will too !

Rick and I got back from the Cook Islands as we finished this tour of the South Pacific.  We are extending San Clemente Soaps products throughout the world.  What a beautiful, magical country to visit.

We had an opportunity to meet the High Commissioner from New Zealand for the Cook Islands along with the Deputy Mayor of Aitutaki.  Reverend Glassie and his lovely wife were very accommodating on this island. The church he oversees is the oldest in Cook Islands. We had an opportunity to hear their beautiful church singing (imene).

Rick said it is because they sing in the 7th diminished which makes their voices harmonize so much.  With no instruments to accompany their voices, the people who sang sounded like angels from Heaven.

We would recommend a visit to the Cook Islands to visit the people.  In their culture their daily goal is to be nice to everyone and have a smile on their face.  It is contagious.

So we too have a smile on our face and now it is time for the Dad’s and Grad’s.  June is also the celebration of summer and time for family fun.  As one Dad commented on the Cook Island of Rarotonga, “We cook breakfast for Mom’s for Mother’s Day and we cook for Father’s Day too !” 

Now I have to get cooking on an idea for my graduate, Dylan,as his special day in June is almost here.