Did you know that St. Valentine is (literally) in Ireland? Those who follow our blogs and on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, will know we love sharing all things Irish, in our own unique Anam Croí Ireland Tours way. And we generally adhere to the great Irish tradition of ‘never letting the truth get in the way of a good story’. However, here we’re dealing in fact. His remains have lain in the heart of Dublin since the 19th century. We’ll come back to that, but let’s first take a look at Valentine – man and tradition.
A Tradition Through the Ages
Some (usually cheapskate boyfriends/partners/husbands😍) may hold that St. Valentine’s day is simply a lot of commercialised hogwash. An opportunity for card and flower retailers, restaurants and chocolate manufacturers to enhance profits.
But it really does go so much deeper than that. It’s believed the tradition of lovers celebrating February 14th predates the foundation of Hallmark by some 600 years!
The Story of Saint Valentine
The February 14th link is a rather unfortunate one. It’s the date Valentine was put to death on the orders of Roman emperor Claudius. Why? Just for marrying people!
Back then, newly married men were forbidden from travelling for the first year of marriage. This was to enable them to do their part in starting a family. However, this hampered the emperor’s efforts in mustering armies needed to bolster the empire. His solution was to ban marriage. Just as well the Romans never came to Ireland!
The First Valentine’s Card
During his incarceration, Valentine began to educate the blind daughter of his jailer. The night before his execution he wrote a note to her, signing it ‘your Valentine’. When she opened the note, a crocus fell from within, and her sight was restored. The celebration of his feast day from a church perspective goes back to the very end of the 5th century. As well as lovers, St. Val is also the patron saint of bees.
The Honeymoon Connection
The term ‘Honeymoon’ goes back to medieval times. On marrying, the happy couple would be gifted a supply of Mead – made from fermented honey. They were given enough to last one full moon cycle – a month. The mead was said to aid fertility. And so, after one month it was anticipated that the newly weds would be announcing their pregnancy. Of course mead is also know as ‘the nectar of the gods’.
You can gain more insights on both out 6 Day Southwest and 12 Day ‘The Full Irish’ tours, we visit Kinsale Mead.
How Valentine got to Dublin
During the 19th century, Dublin priest Fr. John Spratt, gave an oration in Rome. So impressed was Pope Gregory XVI, that he presented him with the remains of St. Valentine. Spratt went on to become one of the driving forces of the temperance movement. Ironically, just a few months before his death, physicians prescribed alcohol as a cure for his gangrenous foot. He stout heartedly (‘scuse the pun) declined. Saying he would rather die than let it help him live a little longer.
St. Valentine’s remains/relics were brought to Whitefriars Street Church in Dublin in 1836. Later, they were virtually forgotten about. And, it was only when the church was being renovated in the 1950s, they were placed in their current location. The statue above the casket carved at that time shows Valentine holding a crocus. The casket itself contains the seal of the Vatican – evidence of Ireland holding Valentine dear to our hearts.
Things to do in Dublin
Saint Valentine is just one of the many unusual sights and stories one can stumble upon while rambling around Dublin. We provide all our clients with a list of super Dublin attractions (many of them free). They can explore at leisure before or after one of our great escorted tours of Ireland.