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Jack Valentine and other St Valentine’s Day traditions

DovefromaboveDovefromabove Central Norfolk UKPosts: 65,494
edited February 2020 in The potting shed
14th Feb is St Valentine’s Day
and, as both Chaucer and Shakespeare wrote, it’s traditionally the day when birds choose their mate. 

However, since moving to Norfolk I’ve become aware of another St Valentine’s tradition 

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/jack-valentine-norfolk-remembers-tradition-1-6512335


Has anyone else heard of Jack Valentine?

Are there other less well known Valentine’s Day traditions?
“I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







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Posts

  • wild edgeswild edges The north west of south east WalesPosts: 5,533
    In Wales we have St Dwynwen's day.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Bath, SomersetPosts: 6,291
    No, I've never heard of that. Best keep quiet about it in case it gets bigged up as yet another excuse for the shops to flog us yet more cards and tat! 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Central Norfolk UKPosts: 65,494
    🤣 
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 9,648
    Judging by the squabbling going on here, some birds definitely haven't chosen their "Valentine" yet - obviously not checked the calendar.
    Caught something briefly on the radio this am in which it was stated as Taunton (Somerset ) being a noted centre of infidelity so perhaps our birds here are taking this into account ;)
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 5,939
    edited February 2020
    As a Norfolk girl this Jack Valentine tradition is one I grew up with. On the 14th Feb there would usually be a loud knock at the door after dark which we (6 yrs old or thereabouts brother and I) would be allowed to answer.

    On opening the door there was nobody there but there was a small pile of 'little' sweets (fruit salads, tiny 1d chocolate bars, flying saucers etc etc) left on the porch window sill for us. All my friends received similar treats in a similar way.

    It wasn't until I moved away from Norfolk in the late 80's that I realised that nobody outside the county had even heard of this tradition. Certainly not in Yorkshire where they had strange things like mischief night and parkin - neither of which I'd heard of before.

    Very regional customs are to be treasured...
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • BenCottoBenCotto RutlandPosts: 2,045
    What a great card! One thing intrigues me: why did you keep for several years a useless jumper? Or perhaps you’re very prescient and carefully stored it next to the box containing short pieces of string knowing one day you’d find a use for it.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 5,939
    Great card😀
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Central Norfolk UKPosts: 65,494
    Love it ❤️ 
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • wild edgeswild edges The north west of south east WalesPosts: 5,533
    BenCotto said:
    why did you keep for several years a useless jumper? Or perhaps you’re very prescient and carefully stored it next to the box containing short pieces of string knowing one day you’d find a use for it.
    I think she kept it as a gardening jumper for a while then decided it wasn't getting used so chucked it away. I tend to keep bits of useful fabric for projects so I cut the arms off and added them to the collection. I used some to make a gnome hat for an xmas decoration too. The string was from my string collection too :blush: These days I use the excuse that we'll need a ton of craft stuff for kid's projects as they go through school so nothing useful gets thrown away.

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