Valentine's
Day
Activities & Crafts
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History
of Valentine's Day
Until
1969, Valentine's Day was one of the many
Saint's Days observed by the Catholic Church. It was dedicated
to the patron saint of romantic causes, St. Valentine. Although
it was removed from the Church's calendar in 1969, the religious
meaning coupled with Valentine's Day's roots in Roman paganism
have allowed it to continue as a holiday for everyone.
Early Christians saw Valentine's Day as a way to
honor St. Valentine, of whom there were actually three.
The Catholic Church recognizes three saints by that name,
all who were martyred.
Most
believe that the day was truly named for a priest in the 3rd century
who performed secret marriages when the Roman Emperor Claudius
II thought single soldiers were more likely to enlist in the army.
He was imprisoned and executed on February 4, 270. It is believed
he was responsible for giving the jailer's blind daughter her
eyesight back, and before his execution, he sent her a note saying,
"From your Valentine."
In
496 A.D., February 14, was declared in the name of St. Valentine
by Pope Gelasius. It remained a Church holiday until 1969, when
Pope Paul VI took it from the calendar.
On
February 14, the ancient Romans celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia
in honor of Juno, the queen of the Roman gods and goddesses. Juno
was also the goddess of women and marriage. Honoring her was thought
to be a fertility rite. At the feast held the next day, the women
would write love letters and stick them in a large urn. The men
would pick a letter from the urn and for the next year, pursue
the woman who wrote the chosen letter. This custom lasted until
the 1700s when people decided their beloveds should be chosen
by sight, not luck.
St. Valentine's Day however, was not declared an
official holiday until 1537 by England's King Henry
VIII who was known for his ways of disposing of wives. It
was another century and a half before religious devotional
cards became non-religious cards to reflect the change in
the holiday.
Heart
Shape Collage
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Different color paper, scissors, glue,
Crayons or markers.
Instructions: Have your child draw different
size heart shapes on the different color paper. If you only have
white paper you can color the hearts with crayons or markers.
For younger ones you will need to draw the shapes. Cut the heart
shapes out and make a collage of hearts. For a special valentine
for someone have them add a picture or two.
Fun
with Hearts
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Red Construction Paper, scissors and
crayons or markers.
Instructions: Have your child cut out heart shapes on
red construction paper and then write cute little sayings on them,
like "Be Mine Valentine". For younger ones your will
need to help with the heart shapes and write a small “From:”
on it and let the child write their name.
Valentine
Scavenger Hunt
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Low
Material: Valentine’s
Instructions: Hide valentines throughout the
house and on each one put a clue as to where the next one is.
Have 5 to 7 all over the house. For added excitement for the kids
have a small treat waiting for them at the end.
Post
Office Valentines
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Cardboard box, envelopes with stickers
for stamps, wagon, bag, stickers for stamps, and valentines
Instructions: Help the children build a mailbox
out of the cardboard box. The can decorate it however they want.
Have your child make (and the rest of the family) Valentines and
have then put them in the envelope, address the envelope and even
have them pretend to bye stamps for the envelopes. Then put all
the Valentines in the pretend mailbox. Your child can then deliver
the mail to all the family members.
What
is My Heart?
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: Low
Material: None
Instructions: Discuss with your child the purpose
of their heart; show them where it is located in their body and
how to feel their own pulse. Children under 4 can do this obviously
but their attention is a little less.
Fishes
“Heart”
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Red Paper, Scissors, Tape or Glue
Instructions: Have your child cut a very large
heart shape for the fish’s body, a large heart for the tail,
three heart shapes for the fins, and one tiny heart shape for
the mouth. Have them glue or tape the very large and large heart
together by the points, then add the fins to the body and then
the tiny heart is the mouth.
Rose
Colored Binoculars
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: Low
Material: 2 Empty Toilet Paper Rolls, Pink Colored
Cling Wrap, Rubber Bands and Tape
Instructions: Tape the two toilet paper rolls
together to make a pretend set of binoculars. Then place the colored
cling wrap on the binocular ends and either tape it in place or
use the rubber bands.
Valentine
Mailbox
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Cardboard Box (shoe box is best), tape,
wrapping paper, different colored paper, markers, tape and scissors
Instructions: Supply a shoe box (or small cardboard
box) with a small slit cut in the top for the Valentines to go
in. Then have you child decorate the box with some of the items
that you have provided.
Heart
in your Hand
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: High
Material: Paper, paint and scissors
Instructions: Help paint your child’s hand
with red paint and then have them overlap their fingers and keep
their palms apart to create a heart shape. Have them press down
on the blank piece of paper. After they wash the paint off their
hands they can cut the heart shape out or leave it as is and decorate
around it.
Fancy
Valentines
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Different color paper, scissors, glue, stickers,
ribbon, string, macaroni and markers or crayons.
Instructions: With the provided supplies have
your child create their own special valentines day card for someone
special.
