Musical accompaniment: Window Shopping performed by Hank Williams, Sr.
Happy Valentine‘s Day!
I wanted to post a picture of a cute couple for Valentine’s Day, but I couldn’t find a pair that suited me. Even if I had, there’s no accounting for taste. Maybe not everyone would like them.
Fortunately, this Hank Williams song came along and inspired me with the right answer. Everyone should be able to see who’s available and select their perfect valentine.
So let me present to you these pictures of the (presumably eligible) ladies and gentlemen of Natchez, Mississippi, circa 1890:
Mississippi Dep’t of Archives & History
Mississippi Dep’t of Archives & History
Mississippi Dep’t of Archives & History
old spirituals 
I wonder if there is a proposal of marriage going on with the couple to the far left? Two or three people are seemingly pleased but most don’t look too happy. I wouldn’t trust the fellow to the far right. He looks as if he’s up to something!
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😂 he does! Usually I’m not very intuitive but in his case I see it! At least the fellow in the back looks happy!
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Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world, but most people do not know the history behind the celebration.
It is said the Valentine was a priest who served during the 3rd century in Rome when Claudius II declared Roman soldiers could not marry because single men made better soldiers. Valentine ignored the edict and started performing secret marriages of young lovers. When the emperor learned of Valentine’s disobedience, an order was issued to put him to death. Alternate lore suggests Saint Valentine may have been killed while helping Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were tortured.
Whichever actually happened, slowly Saint Valentine, whose feast day is February 14 in Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran Churches and July 6 and July 30 in Eastern Orthodox Churches, became so popular that couples all across the world started to recognize Valentine’s Day as the day of love.
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I never knew the history! This is so interesting!
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