Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Lisa's Corner: 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?'

By Lisa Goudy

Shakespeare wrote this sonnet, but he's hardly responsible for the romanticism of Valentine's Day, although he did play a part.

Many people largely credit the romanticism of Valentine's Day to Geoffrey Chaucer.
With the annual romantic date coming up this weekend, which I have always maintained is a time to spend with loved ones, I was curious at to the history of the date and it certainly has a long one.

According to the The Telegraph website, Romans in ancient Rome celebrated Feb. 13, 14 and 15 as Lupercalia or a pagan fertility festival. This festival was dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

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