Gaelic Words

Valentine’s day: La Naomh Bhaileintin (la niv valentine)

Day of the kisses: La nam’ Pog (la nim paw-k)

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How To Say ‘Valentine’s Day’ In Scottish Gaelic (with phonetics) | Learn Scottish Gaelic (youtube.com)

Valentine's Day Origin

First celebrated in the year 496, Valentine’s Day is thought to have originated from a Roman festival called Lupercalia, which was held in the middle of February at the start of springtime.

It is believed that as part of the celebrations, boys and girls drew names from a box and would be boyfriend and girlfriend during the festival - and sometimes get married.



In medieval times, Scots would traditionally present the object of their affections with a Luckenbooth brooch, which consisted of entwined hearts topped with a crown and takes its name from ‘Locking Booths’ – the small shops along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile that jewelry and trinkets.

According to legend, they were first given to Lord Darnley by Mary Queen of Scots as a symbol of devotion.

St. Valentine and the Glasgow Connection

Glasgow’s Connection with Saint Valentine began in 1868. A wealthy French family donated a small wooden box labeled “Corpus Valentini Martyris,” or ‘the Body of Saint Valentine’ to a Franciscan holy order. It was then brought to Glasgow by monks impressed by the locals' faith. His bones, namely the forearm, were placed in Saint Francis’ Church in the rundown neighborhood of the Gorbals. The relics sat there in almost complete anonymity for over a century. In 1993, the casket was moved to the nearby Blessed St John Duns Scotus Chapel, where it has been granted a place of honor at the church’s entrance.

When Valentine’s Day comes around, a statue of the Saint is placed next to it, and the casket is decorated with flowers while the friars say prayers for lovers. Lovers have been known to propose to their intended within its shadow. It has even led Glasgow to call itself the “City of Love.”

Pink Campari

The Pink Campari takes Valentine’s Day literally, and instead of being just refreshing or warm, this bright pink cocktail fits the bill perfectly. It contains many fresh fruity flavors, including raspberry, pear, and cranberry, making it fresh and delicious.

To make this flavorful cocktail, you will need:

Lime Twist

Pinch of Sweet and Sour Mix

Two Splashes of Pear and Cranberry Juice

5 Fresh Raspberries or Strawberries (plus any for garnish)

1 Ounce Rye Whiskey

1 Ounce Campari 

Ideally, you’ll need a martini shaker and plenty of ice to make this. Add all your ingredients, and shake it well. The ice cubes pulverize the raspberries as you shake, releasing all their fantastic flavor. When finished, pour the cocktail into a martini glass, and take any extra raspberries you have, along with a lime twist and garnish. It’ll look great and taste even better.