Barneblad: Celebrate Valentinsdag with love

A monthly feature to share with kids and grandkids

Skylar Barnes and Breana Barta, prekindergartners in Ms. Sandra Swint’s class at Randolph Elementary, create a Valentine’s Day card for veterans at the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rich Mc Fadden)

Brought to you by Lori Ann Reinhall
The Norwegian American

Valentinsdag—Valentine’s Day—is another holiday that has come to Norway via the United States. It is also called Alle hjerters dag (All Hearts’ Day) and Kjærlighetens dag (Love’s Day) and like here at home, it is celebrated on February 14.

A day of love and friendship, Valentinsdag is gaining popularity in Norway with both kids and adults. What could be more important than showing the ones you love that you care about them?

Legend has it that St. Valentine was a martyr, a Christian saint who gave his life for what he believed in. In the case of St. Valentine it was love: he was put in prison for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry the ones they loved.

According to the story, St. Valentine was so kind and loving that he restored sight to the blind daughter of the judge who had sentenced him to death. Just before he was sent to die, he wrote a farewell letter to her signed, “Your Valentine.”

Today, we send Valentine’s Day cards to our friends and loved ones. We can sign them, “Your Valentine” or with our own names. Most valentines have a red or pink on heart on them to symbolize love. It is fun to exchange valentines with your friends at school and bring home a collection of them.

Valentine’s colors

Red, white, and pink are the colors of Valentine’s Day. Red is associated with passion and love, white symbolizes purity, and pink is the lovely combination of the two. For this reason, it’s both fitting and fun to dress up in red or pink on February 14.

Sweet somethings

Photo: Pixabay
Norwegian waffles are traditionally shaped like hearts anyway—it’s almost like they were made for Valentine’s Day!

Valentine decorations are also usually pink, white, or red, and you can have fun decorating for a party. Even candies are wrapped in these colors on Valentine’s Day, and chocolates are an especially popular gift. You might want to include a chocolate kiss with your cards for your friends: it’s a very sweet gift.

Baking is another creative and fun activity to celebrate this special day. Ask an adult to schedule a baking day. Heart-shaped sugar cookies can be decorated with pink frosting and red sprinkles, or you can explore the treasury of Norwegian recipes found here on our website. How about some heart-shaped waffles? You will make your friends and family very happy!

Flowers

Photo: Pixabay
Norwegian waffles are traditionally shaped like hearts anyway—it’s almost like they were made for Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day is a day of flowers, and one of the best ways to show your love and appreciation. Red roses are very treasured, so you may want to save your allowance money to get your mom or teacher a red rose. Or you can make your own flowers out of paper or coffee filters! Ask an adult to help you find and follow instructions online. These may even mean more to the person you give them to, because you made them yourself.

Jeg elsker deg

Finally, there are three very important words to remember and say on Valentine’s Day: “I love you.” In Norwegian, we say “Jeg elsker deg” (pronounced yay ell-sker day). These are very powerful words, so reserve them for the ones closest and dearest to you: your mother and father, your grandparents, your brothers and sisters.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

This article originally appeared in the February 8, 2019, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.