"Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it."

Ashmead Green
Feb 10, 2017
2 min read

.............. Let’s do it, let’s fall in love." Cole Porter wrote the original in 1928 and it has since been covered by some of the best artists including Dorsey Brothers featuring Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Alanis Morissette, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine.

The original lyrics were not quirky so much as flagrantly 'racist' (by today's standards) ...."Chinks do it, Japs do it,up in Lapland little Laps do it......."

As I will be in the air Seoul bound somewhere high above the Russian Steppes as the day dawns this Valentine's, I wondered at the origins of this very commercial, yet strangely romantic day as I sauntered past my oak today.

As best I can glean the holiday's roots are in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a fertility celebration commemorated annually on February 15. Pope Gelasius I recast this pagan festival as a Christian feast day circa 496, declaring February 14 to be St. Valentine's Day.

Given there were 3 St. Valentines, which one Gelasius intended to honour is a mystery. Unfortunately for the 3, it is said they were all martyred on the 14th!

In honour of this St. Valentine's day I offer some of my favourite quotes and romantic niceties.

"I love you, and because I love you, I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies."- Pietro Aretino

*Do you know what it means to come home at night to a woman who'll give you a little love, a little affection, a little tenderness? It means you're in the wrong house, that's what it means*. - Henny Youngman

"In my house I'm the boss, my wife is just the decision maker*. - Woody Allen

*Doubt thou the stars are fire, Doubt that the sun doth move. Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love.* - William Shakespeare

And finally...

“A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.” –Ingrid Bergman

So to write any more would be superfluous...wishing you all a happy, enchanted day hopefully in the company of that one who makes you realise that home is wherever the two of you are.

If you have got this far you deserve Ella :) enjoy.