The legends are many and the saints
named Valentine as well, and they all had something to do with love. Some gave
money to a poor girl so that she could find lawful love, some a rose to make
peace between two quarrelsome lovers, some were associated with a noble
engagement as was the case with Saint Valentine in Genoa, and finally some, in
the name of Valentine, blessed romantic and demure love just to fight the pagan
tradition of an unbridled and very material feast (to put it slightly).
There is the tragic and untamable love,
to which we have owed for centuries the date of 14 February, the day on which
Valentine was martyred for having united in marriage a Christian woman and a legionnaire
(who was in turn executed), and equally powerful is the romantic love raised by
a medieval poem that associates Valentine's Day with Cupid while blindfolded
shooting his love arrows. Valentine's Day all over the world is the feast of
love, of scented 'pizzini' (to which today are added mails and posts), poetic
or foul-mouthed, anonymous or in the light of day (some have calculated in more
than a billion).
The best wishes, those firmly linked to
an enduring passion or the hope of making a conquest, are accompanied by a
gift. And here comes in aid of all lovers of all ages to celebrate love in all
its forms, 'Stile Artigiano - Edition in Love', an event organised by
Confartigianato Liguria with the participation of the Liguria Region's
Department for Economic Development, the Chamber of Commerce and the Genoa City
Council.
From 7 to 14 February on the
Confartigianato Liguria website (www.confartigianatoliguria.it) it will be
possible to book a personalised appointment with artisan experts from the food,
fashion and design sectors to plan and create your own exclusive gift,
experiencing its production directly if you wish. By connecting to the site it
will also be possible to book to take part in the free guided tours of the
craft workshops in the historic centre ('Tours in Love') on the afternoon of
Saturday 11 February.
Due to a love story dating back to
Charles l D'Orleans, prisoner in the Tower of London from 1415 to 1440, who
wrote love notes to his wife calling her 'sweet Valentina', old sayings still
circulate today: 'on Valentine's Day every Valentine chooses his Valentina' 'on
Valentine's Day every Valentina knocks on his Valentine's window'.
A small or large gift from a craftsman's
hand, does not hurt to achieve the target.
Discover Youliguria artisans and their products on our e-commerce.