ISSN: 1391 - 0531
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Vol. 41 - No 36
TV Times

‘Love Nest’ smack on Beach

Valentine spirit will be free to flow on 14 February at the private beach of Mount Lavinia Hotel as the hotel invites all lovers to be apart of 'beach romance'.

In keeping with historical traditions during this period, the lovers are invited to experience absolute privacy and ultimate romance in specially created 'love nests' smack on the beach. The 'love nests' are for two persons, covered on the three sides, and only open towards the Indian Ocean. The specially designed dinner will be presented in a tiffin carrier with cutlery and crockery.

We serve the menu of their choice in this specially designed dinner pack as not to disturb the privacy of the diners. The waiters will not disturb the lovers unless a button inside the nest is pressed at which point a light will appear outside the 'nest' indicating that the couple needs assistance' explained Osadhi de Silva , the Public Relations Manager of the hotel

Special Valentine dinner and the nest will cost Rs. 5,000/- per couple.

The soft music will serenade the lovers throughout. Free entrance to the 'Hut' included in this romantic package for those who wish to dance late into the night, or moonlit walk on the beach by the Indian Ocean for the tender romantic.

By far the most unique, poetic and dreamy location in town once again overlooking the Indian Ocean 'Terrace' too will have its Valentine party for those, who are in love.

Special Valentine dinner buffet is available at Terrace at the price of Rs. 2000/- per person with live music for dancing.

Entrance to the Hut is free for Terrace lovers.

Valentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddeses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.

The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.

Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius, the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that Roman men did not want to leave their lovers or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome.

The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome during this period of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom, indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honour of a heathen God. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.

The priests of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavored to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the Chrch authorities appear to have chosen Saint Valentine's Day for the celebration of this new feast. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for Valentines, of saints a patrons for the coming year, arose in this way.

Custom
Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.

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Copyright 2007 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka.