THE LOVE OF MYSTERY - VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL

Valentine's Day is a day full of mystery. We look at it as the day to show our better halfs just how romantic we can get.

But, it did not start out that way -

Though no one has pinpointed the exact origin of the holiday, one good place to start is ancient Rome, where men hit on women by, well, hitting them.

From Feb. 13 to 15, the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia. The men sacrificed a goat and a dog, then whipped women with the hides of the animals they had just slain.

Young women would actually line up for the men to hit them. They believed this would make them fertile.

The brutal fete included a matchmaking lottery, in which young men drew the names of women from a jar. The couple would then be, um, coupled up for the duration of the festival — or longer, if the match was right.

The ancient Romans may also be responsible for the name of our modern day of love. Emperor Claudius II executed two men — both named Valentine — on Feb. 14 of different years in the 3rd century A.D. Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St. Valentine's Day.

Later, Pope Gelasius I muddled things in the 5th century by combining St. Valentine's Day with Lupercalia to expel the pagan rituals. But the festival was more of a theatrical interpretation of what it had once been. This time, there was more of an emphasis on the combination fertility and love.

Around the same time, the Normans celebrated Galatin's Day. Galatin meant "lover of women." That was likely confused with St. Valentine's Day at some point, in part because they sound alike.

So, in honor of day that is shrouded in mystery, I am offering something that screams mystery - SHOES!

If you setup a meeting today and eventually purchase the DREAMSTARTERS BOOK MARKETNG GHOSTWRITING SERVICE, we will send you a pair of red Steve Madden Pumps.

Shoes = Attraction = Attention. Just like a book!

It's time for your book to be BORN. It's the perfect day!

(day of love and fertility, get it?)

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY.

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#VALENTINESDAY #MIKE #FALLAT #MYSTERY