Once again, we are staring down another celebrated Holiday of sorts or at least a day to remember especially for all you men out there. Ol’ Dutch is not sure how us men got saddled with this day, but we surely are, and you best not forget it if you are smart. As with anything, Valentine’s Day has an origin not quite what one would expect, and I had to look it up. I knew of course that there was a Saint Valentine and thought that was the end of the story or shall I say the beginning. But it turns out that the day actually was a pagan holiday called Lupercalia.  

This festival involved much food and the pairing off of partners but also included the priests to take strips of goat hide and dip them in blood and whip the local women to increase fertility. Now I have heard of a lot of things to increase the chances of conceiving like limiting caffeine, having a balanced diet and of course the obvious one of having sex. But learning about whipping women with bloody nanny skins was a new one for me. 

It appears that the Roman Emperor Constantine changed the pagan day to a Saints day so here we are. So, here we are stuck with a holiday now renamed after Saint Valentine who was martyred way back on Feb.14, 273. AD. And even though Miss Trixie thinks Ol’ Dutch is ancient, I can't honestly recall the man. 

I guess my earliest memories about that day would be in Elementary School where we decorated shoe boxes and set them in the window. The idea being that other people would get some hokey cards and glue a candy heart to it and stick it in your box. And we all waited with bated breath for the day we got to open our boxes and see just who wanted to be our Valentine. Of course, our teachers emphasized that we needed to place a card in everyone else's box, so no one was excluded so the specialness of the occasion was somewhat lacking in nature.  

Ol’ Dutch has never been one to really feel too much about that day other than one of obligation and I think it may have been from all the glue I ingested from the hearts stuck on the cards way back then. But whatever the reason, I never did understand why us men were predominantly saddled with expressing our love with gifts, meals, and candy.  

Way back when I first became so enamored with Miss Trixie I did try and at least make a showing on Valentine’s Day and we would go out to eat at the least. And this year will probably take her for Sushi at the least but there will be no card in the mail for her. And let me tell you why. 

Prior to the Day Ol’ Dutch decided to surprise her with a card but she never let me out of her sight, so it was hard to even buy one. One day, we went shopping and Miss Trixie told me she was headed down a strip mall to some store. I told her I needed something in the Dollar Store-yes Ol’ Dutch buys nothing but the best for her-and thought I would sneak in and get her a card without her knowing.  

Feeling smug I got in line to pay for said surprise only to find Miss Trixie standing beside me. Yes, she got curious as to what I might buy. So having no excuse, I showed her the card and she said “that is so sweet.” And with her having ruined the surprise anyway Ol’ Dutch did the smart thing and put the card back. 

So, to this day there are no cards coming forthwith at least from Ol’ Dutch. And not wanting children or having a goat there won't be any bloody whipping for Miss Trixie either. The poor woman just cannot get a break. 

Kevin Kirkpatrick spends his days fishing, hunting, ATVing, hiking or making people laugh. His email is Kevin@TroutRepublic.com. Additional news can be found at www.troutrepublic.com or on Twitter at TroutRepublic.