Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is very exciting especially if you have kids. It is all about love in the air and exchanging cards, flowers, candy, and gifts. As a mother I just love getting that list of students and helping my son fill out the cards to give out to all of his class mates. We had loads of fun this year and I can't wait until the next time. I put together a little info on Valentine's Day you might just be interested in reading!

Cupid

In Roman mythology, Cupid (Latin cupido, meaning "desire") is the god of desire, affection and erotic love. He is often portrayed as the son of the goddess Venus, with a father rarely mentioned. His Greek counterpart is Eros. Cupid is also known in Latin as Amor ("Love"). The Amores (plural) or amorini in the later terminology of art history are the equivalent of the Greek Erotes.

Although Eros appears in Classical Greek art as a slender winged youth, during the Hellenistic period he was increasingly portrayed as a chubby boy. During this time, his iconography acquired the bow and arrow that remain a distinguishing attribute; a person, or even a deity, who is shot by Cupid's arrow is filled with uncontrollable desire. The Roman Cupid retains these characteristics, which continue in the depiction of multiple cupids in both Roman art and the later classical tradition of Western art.^[1]
In Latin literature, Cupid's ability to compel love and desire plays an instigating role in several myths or literary scenarios. In Vergil's Aeneid, Cupid prompts Dido to fall in love with Aeneas, with tragic results. Ovid makes Cupid the patron of love poets. Cupid is a central character, however, in only the traditional tale of Cupid and Psyche, as told by Apuleius.

Cupid was a continuously popular figure in the Middle Ages, when under Christian influence he often had a dual nature as Heavenly and Earthly love, and in the Renaissance, when a renewed interest in classical philosophy endowed him with complex allegorical meanings. In contemporary popular culture, Cupid is shown shooting his bow to inspire romantic love, often as an icon of Valentine's Day. Copied.





The movie clip that I attached is from the new movie "The Vow" that is based on a real life story and is out in theaters just in time for you to go see it for Valentines Day!

Kids Books

"Silly Tilly's Valentine" by: Lillian Hoban

"The Valentine Bears" by: Eve Bunting pictures by: Jan Brett

"A Sweetheart for Valentine" by: Lorna Ballan

Kids Movies

Alvin and the Chipmunks "The Valentine Collection"

Obviously there are many more books and movies to add but, these are a few that I hope you enjoy!

If you come to the Walhalla Library located in Oconee County and guess Cupids mothers name then you can enter to win the book: The Summons by: John Grisham