Love is in the air...


(A St Valentine’s day flight of fancy…Plus some thoughts on hedgehogs…)

It’s that time of year again, dear readers, when birds are twittering amorously, the first fecund green shoots of spring are peeping timidly out, young lovers flutter their eyelashes at one another, Cupid draws back his bow, and TWANG! the thoughts of lusty librarians turn to…why, of course, researching the historical origins of St Valentine.

Wearing fluffy fairy wings and garlands of fragrant roses, here’s what the Blogbrarian’s team of dedicated researches has come up with:

“St Valentine was a third century martyr of obscure origins, probably linked to a priest of Ancient Rome and the feast of Lupercalia (a festival of fertility, fun and frolics, still much enjoyed in library staff-rooms throughout the Borough).
It’s also the day when, as medieval legend has it, birds traditionally choose their mates - `For On St Valentine, do all the birds of the air in couples do so join` -
In Merrie England, the choosing of a Valentine sweetheart was a light-hearted game, often accompanied by the presentation of a small gift – (Samuel Pepys, typically, grumbled about the expenses incurred).
Victorian times saw the development of the Valentine’s card, some coyly romantic, others boldly saucy, but all usually accompanied by gushing prose and luscious verse…”

Meanwhile, another colleague – always eager to be of service – has alerted me to the fact that she believes that hedgehogs become more romantically inclined around d this time of year, and – in their post hibernatory ardour – make extremely odd noises. Is anyone able to confirm this?

So there we have it, dear readers; this year as a Valentine’s treat, the Blogbrary brings you the gift of love AND learning, with a bit of wildlife thrown in. A bit like libraries, in fact…
In return, if you’d care to send fellow readers a romantic message, a lovingly selected book choice, thoughts on what’s the greatest ever love story ever written, musings on the prickly rustling of the hedgehog, or the words from a favoured love poem, well...that’d be just lovely. Just use the pretty little comments box below.

TTFN