French Valentine

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Here are a few customs and traditions as well as trivia on how the French celebrate Valentine's Day.
Une Loterie d'amour (Love Lottery)

This may have been one of the origins of speed dating in my opinion. This has been practiced in the old times wherein single young and old people would go into houses facing each other and begin calling out across from one window to another and pair off with their chosen partner. If the young man isn't interested with his partner, he would leave her. The ladies who were abandoned would light up a bonfire at night wherein they would burn the images of the men who left them. The French government banned this ritual since it ridicules people.

Carte d'amitie: Valentine Cards

Just like the usual Valentine Card these are also exchanged between friends and lovers to show how much they love them. The first recorded Valentines greeting was supposed to have been sent by the Duke of Orleans, who was held prisoner in the Tower of London after his capture at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. During his imprisonment the young duke is said to have sent poems & love letters to his wife in France.

Bon fête de Saint-Valentin!