@Shantara - I stumbled over your apple oracle, and had a faint memory in my head, needed research, so here it is:
If girls peel an apple in one piece and throw the peel over the right shoulder, the way it falls on the floor can indicate, if she is going to remain at home next year or find a bridegroom, even be able to find out the name. Men could do that also, but (a bit lazy, hm?), they only needed to eat an apple at X-Mas morning in front of their house and watch the 1st girl to come along => their fate.
Now for Valentine:
in medieval times it was the day to celebrate with large meals by gilds and brotherhoods, to remember this heretic priest, who became a martyr during the time of the Roman Emperor Claudius II. Saint Valentine normally shows the beginning of carnival - and... in very old times, it was called the "love-a-Lot-day" (Vielliebchentag) in Germany, as girls used to believe, they would marry the first man coming up in front of their house. From medieval times on, it was the day of youth and love and... was probably originated in Ancient ROMAN times, to celebrate the Goddess Juno. Some say, it is the day, where wild birds search for a partner, and this would be the real origin.
And I found more: since Queen Victoria's time, tiny cards with lace, roses and hearts were sent - love oracles were asked, in a form of a lottery.
e.g.: Girls write the names of their lovers on paper slips, put them into clay, throw those bullets into the water. The first slip coming up => bridegroom.
In former times, children liked this day, as it was a day of presents for another. England => kids stood up very early and tried to catch someone before sunrise. If the kid could say 2x:" Good morning, Valentine", it got a present. If the sun rose before that => the present was "burnt by the sun".
Source: Sybil Gräfin Schönfeldt: Das große Ravensburger Buch der Feste und Bräuche. (it's a German source, but the author gathered a lot of quaint traditions dealing with everything).
Soooooo, those saying: Ugh, it's no German(ic) tradition, are wrong <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> - Valentine is a very old celebration day, adapted by the Christians, but its origin was lost during centuries.
Kiya
@Egin => I can't be on the forum as often as I used to be, sorry. I'm very busy and will keep busy for the next months - but I'll pop in 1x a week, or so.
PPS: As for apples - this fruit existed before the bible was written and has been a symbol of fertility ever since mankind turned into farmers and settlers - adapted by Jews/Christians again, but only adapted, not originated <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" /> - so, no bible copyright.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" />
