We might not know much about the dread Emperor Claudius Gothicus II but he was the first of a long line of brutish barbarian Roman generals of quite remarkable cruelty who had regained the trust of a hesitant soldiery faced with the incipient threat of humanistic Christianity.
There is little in the way of incontrovertible fact as the rule of Emperor Claudius Gothicus came to an abrupt end due to a fatal infection in 270 after two years only of absolute power. One surviving tall tale tells of a youthful Claudius when performing “as a wrestler in the 250’s… knocked out the teeth of his opponent when his genitalia had been grabbed in the match”.
Which brings us to our friend, the priest Valentinus.
Claudius had recognised during his long and bloody military career that unmarried men make the boldest and the bravest warriors. It was perfect common sense, therefore, that his first action as emperor was to outlaw marriage. The goodly Valentinus strongly disapproved, and continued to perform wedding ceremonies secretly. Needless to say, Valentinus was rapidly rumbled, imprisoned and tortured, but not before he had attempted to convert Claudius to Christianity. One of Valentinus’s gaolers, Asterius, greatly admired his formidable fortitude and unquenchable conviction, allowing his beloved and blind from birth daughter Julia to be tutored by his learned prisoner. Valentinus’s daily prayer that Julia regain her sight was duly met.
Needless to say, Valentinus was sentenced to the prescribed three part execution of beating, stoning and decapitation, which took place on 14 February 273. Next to his burial place his faithful young friend Julia planted an almond tree, the ancient symbol of abiding love and friendship.
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Watermelon seeds and almonds had been left in Tutankhamun’s tomb to feed the young boy for eternity.
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The almond tree as defined by the RHS is named Prunus dulcis, “an upright standing, deciduous tree with lance-shaped, toothed dark green leaves. Blossom is pink or white, scented, and produced on bare stems in early spring, followed by oval-shaped green fruit encasing edible almond nuts”.
From its prehistoric origins, the almond tree spread throughout the Middle East entirely by seed, and on into the Mediterranean region, favouring arid climates with cool wet winters. It was one of the first domesticated fruit trees, valued hugely for its nutritious properties. Today, the world produces more than three and a half million tonnes of almonds annually, 80% of which is grown in California.
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“The almond branches have blossomed. Let the Season begin!”.
The ancient Greeks tell us of Phyllis, the Queen of Thrace, whose lover failed to return from war. She thought he had been killed or had found another girlfriend, and so committed suicide. In sympathy, the gods turned Phyllis into an almond tree. When the tardy lover eventually came home, he embraced the almond tree and it immediately blossomed most beautifully, becoming the symbol for constancy in love and eternal hope.
Today, in Greece and in Italy, pretty little packages of five honeyed almonds are given to wedding guests, representing the five wishes of the bride and groom – health, wealth, happiness, fertility and a long life.
Of course, only the bride could cut the cake – to represent the forthcoming loss of her virginity. “Struth!”, as my Granny would say.
According to the latest finding of scientists at the Appalachian State University in Kannapolis, snacking on five almonds a day could enhance the fat-burning effects of exercise – rather cheaper than Ozempic.
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Unfortunately St Valentine has three iterations and all suffer from a lack of information in early martyrologies. His name eventually came into prominence in the High Middle Ages (1000 to 1300) associated with the tradition of courtly love.
A multitude of St Valentine relics, often minute pieces of bone or strands of hair, are scattered throughout many European churches and are duly venerated. His skull crowned with flowers is exhibited in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome. Other relics are in the popular place of pilgrimage, Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.
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It would seem highly unlikely that this age old tale does not contain significant elements of truth. The Roman Catholic Church think otherwise, and relegated St Valentine, removing him from the General Roman Calendar in 1969. Perhaps his bourgeoning popularity had become an embarrassment.
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On the day of his execution, 14 February 273, he wrote to Julia, signing his unknown message, “from your Valentine”.
- Richard Petty