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February is the month for lovers. With all that wintery bluster still blowing about, what better time to snuggle in with your sweetie? And it's also the shortest month! Spring will be here before we know it!
In this issue we have some incredible specials but along with that we'll also talk about Valentine's Day, give you some ideas for some out of the ordinary date night ideas as well as how to get a recipe for a sweet treat to enjoy on those wintery stay at home nights.
Why Do We Celebrate Valentine's Day?
 The most widely celebrated holiday in February is of course Valentine's Day. On February 14 couples world wide express their love for each other by exchanging meaningful cards, chocolates, flowers and other thoughtful gifts and go out on special dates. But where did Valentine's Day start and why is it still celebrated?
Common convention is that Valentine's Day is named after a saint. Well, yes it is, but it's not quite as easy as that. You see, there were actually three saints with that name at various times in the history of the church. To further confuse the issue, each saint was martyred on February 14.
A lot of people believe that the saint that lent his name to our most romantic of holidays was a priest in the 3rd century. He performed secret marriages, which violated the law of the land at the time. Roman Emperor Claudius II believed that single men were more likely to enlist in the army and fight for the motherland, so he outlawed marriage. When Saint Valentine's crimes were discovered, he was jailed and slated for execution. Before he was executed, he healed the jailer's blind daughter. He sent her a note shortly before his execution and signed it, "From Your Valentine."
Ironically enough, it was England's much-wed King Henry VIII who declared Valentine's Day an official religious holiday in 1537. It remained a Church holiday until 1969 when Pope Paul VI removed it from the official Church calendar. The sending of more secular Valentine's Day cards didn't commence until over 500 years after it was first declared a holiday! It remains one of the top card and flower sending holidays worldwide. Valentine's Day is the perfect time to show your loved ones what they mean to you.
Valentine's Date Night Ideas
It's Valentine's Day and the pressure is on. You want to plan something memorable, something that's different than the usual 'dinner and a movie'. Read on for some fun Valentine's Day (or any other day!) date ideas:
Pick a number before you go out. Keep track of the restaurants you pass, and when you reach your magic number go on in, even if it's fast food or someplace out of your usual comfort zone. Bonus points if it's a type of food you've never tried before.
Tired of sitting still? Forgo the usual movie for some active fun. Go ice skating, tobogganing, cross country or downhill skiing (don't forget the hot chocolate!) or go inside for bowling, indoor mini golf or a swim at your local pool.
Get a little culture and support your local artists. Spend a Saturday walking through your local museum or art gallery. Attend local community theatre or go watch a local band play at your home town night spot. Someday you just may be able to look back and say, "I saw them way back when..." Your local paper is a wealth of information on upcoming events.
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