Sweet ideas for a romantic Valentine’s weekend in Huntsville

Huntsville is taking Valentine’s Day seriously this year because we have an entire weekend ahead to celebrate it. But before we share all the delicious specialties, romantic interludes, and beaucoup d’amour pour tout le monde this chilly February weekend, let’s share some little-known facts about Valentine’s Day.

Perhaps it is America’s love of romance that has turned Valentine’s Day into a day for professing one’s deepest love and devotion because, during the Victorian Era, Valentine’s Day was as much about thwarting love as it was about being in love. Valentine cards known as “penny dreadfuls” were proactively sent to unwanted admirers filled with insults, scorn and outright rejection.

It wasn’t much better with the Greeks, whose chubby little cherub known as Cupid was not what one could call a sure shot. He was known for hitting the wrong person – quite often actually, although some say he intentionally toyed with lover’s emotions by using two sets of arrows – one for love and one for hate.

Several common phrases were born from Valentine’s wishes.

The Romans held an annual festival in which men drew names of the women they were to be coupled with for the upcoming year. As a show of their 12-month commitment, the men wore the women’s names on their sleeves. One might speculate on whether it was in tribute to the woman, or so the men could remember her name after a night of chugging mead in the local tavern, but either way, the phrase “wear your heart on your sleeve” has come to mean one’s love is unabashedly apparent.

And have you ever wondered why “x” has come to mean kiss and multiple x’s means a lot of kisses (and thereby an extraordinary amount of love)?

Perhaps it is another show of romance evolving out of thin air because the only connection we can find comes from the “x” being used when signing off on documents and letters as a sign of a sworn oath. Not much there except they often “sealed (it) with a kiss” too.

Even if Valentine’s Day has not always been about romance in the traditional sense, it has certainly evolved into one of the sweetest and most decadent holidays of the year.

In the spirit of the 1960s tune Yummy, Yummy, Yummy I’ve got love in my tummy by the Ohio Express, check out these Valentine’s weekend events:

• Tonight (Feb. 11) and Monday night (Feb. 14) enjoy a three-course Prix Fixe candlelight Valentine’s dinner at Cotton Row; or Saturday, enjoy their Sweetheart Brunch from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.
• Add to dinner, a night at the theatre with a production of Love Letters written by A.R. Gurney and performed by Studio Theater at Lowe Mill tonight (Feb. 11) and tomorrow night (Feb. 12).
• For something untraditional, check out the Galentine and Valentine Rocket City Rover Rides, a pedal-powered party trolley through downtown Huntsville Feb. 11, 12 and 14^th.
• For some daytime romance, try the Harp and Hearts with harpist Steven Miller at Harrison Brothers Hardware from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday; or the Valentine’s Tea Party at Piper & Leaf at Constitution Village, Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
• If tea is too dainty for your taste, Lowe Mill’s Dragon Forge Café is having a Raven Knights: Bloody Valentine gathering tomorrow night at 8 p.m. where “the pale mead was their feast, and it was their poison.”
• Stella’s Elixir Lounge on Holmes takes you back to the golden days of jazz with a Valentine’s Swing Dance Party, Monday (Feb. 14) from 8 p.m. until midnight.
• The Vintage Cigar Lounge at Bridgestreet is holding a Valentine’s Cocktail Workshop at 6 p.m. Monday (Feb. 14) where Vintage Whiskey Bar’s top sommelier-instructor will teach guests how to build the perfect cocktail while revealing your inner mixologist.
• Sunday evening (Feb. 13) R&B Vibes Live presents The Black Love Box at the Electric Belle at Stovehouse. The “Night of Love” combines dinner with live entertainment and giveaways.
• Robyn’s Garden Winery on Oakwood Avenue is hosting Art N’ B “lovers and friends” edition of a paint and sip event Sunday (Feb. 13). Create your masterpiece inspired by the best in R&B and HipHop.

So, share the love this weekend – and Happy Valentine’s Day!