Did you know that in ancient years, a pagan fertility ritual was held in February every year and the Pope abolished this festival proclaiming 14 February Saint Valentine's Day establishing this feast day on the Catholic Calendar of Saints?
The poet Chaucer in the Middle Ages was the first to link St Valentine with romantic love.
her sat a quene
That, as of light the somer-sonne shene
Passeth the sterre, right so over mesure
She fairer was than any creature.
And in a launde, upon an hille of floures,
Was set this noble goddesse Nature;
Of braunches were hir halles and hir boures,
Y-wrought after hir craft and hir mesure;
Ne ther nas foul that cometh of engendrure,
That they ne were prest in hir presence,
To take hir doom and yeve hir audience.
For this was on seynt Valentynes day,
Whan every foul cometh ther to chese his make
Today, this would sound something like:
There sat a queen who was more lovely by far than any other creature, just as the summer sun outshines the stars. This noble goddess Nature sat enthroned in a pavilion she had wrought of branches upon a flowered hill atop a meadow. And there was not any bird born of love that was not ready in her presence to hear her and receive her judgement. For this was Saint Valentine’s Day, when all the birds of every kind that men can imagine come to choose their mates.
Times have changed and we might not be that into romantic poetry anymore, but the idea of romance behind Valentine's Day is still going strong.
Book a meal at your favourite restaurant and surprise your loved one with a special treat.
Make use of this excuse to celebrate your love for each other and cherish the time you spend together.
At Jacks Smokehouse we offer an optional super-special set menu, and there will be live entertainment by the hand of Damon Robinson.
We'll make sure you have a fantastic time.
Book now and reserve your spot for this special occasion!