Simple Preparations for Valentine’s Day

Like many celebrations today, Valentine’s Day has become increasingly focused on the consumeristic aspect of the holiday: presents, gifts, cards and sweets.  But the one word that always come to mind when we think of Valentine’s Day is LOVE. Some other values that carry the Valentine spirit and that you might like to honour during your celebration are: selflessness, devotion, adoration, friendship, courage, loyalty, hope and faith.

Including a simple craft and or story that highlights some of these virtues can be a lovely way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your young children. We have made a fragrant batch of Valentine’s Day salt dough for many years now. You can find the recipe here. A lovely Valentine’s Day story for young children is Somebody Loves you Mr. Hach. For older children, the book Saint Valentine gives a bit of historical reference to the holiday. The most important part of a family’s Valentine Celebration involves expressing adoration to those you love either in words or through simple loving gestures.

For the smallest members of the family, this expression could come in the form of having Valentine’s Day dinner and going around the table and expressing one thing we love, admire or appreciate about each of our family members. Other ways to bring this gesture of love to the family are through acts of kindness- siblings helping siblings (making someone’s bed, reading them a book or drawing them a picture).

Finally, we can also express our love is through prayer, verse or meditation together- either around the table before a meal or perhaps before tucking little ones into bed and saying goodnight.

Because the word ‘God’ does not resonate authentically in our family, (although the words: Soul, Spirit, Sparkle, Light, Love, Magic, the pine and the Universe do), I often replace the word ‘GOD’ in traditional prayers or verses with the word ‘LOVE’ or the words, ‘the pINE’. Rudolf Steiner wrote many beautiful prayers for adults and children in his day. One prayer that particularly touches me is called, “Prayer for Little Children who Themselves Already Pray”.

I have replaced the word God with Love in this prayer and this little edit seems to befit Valentine’s Day just perfectly.

Adaptation of “Prayer for Little Children who Themselves Already Pray”

by Rudolf Steiner

From my head to my feet
I am the image of Love*.
From my heart to my hands
I feel the breath of Love*.
When I speak with my mouth
I follow Love’s* will.
When I behold Love*
Everywhere in mother, father,
In all dear people,
In beast and flower,
In tree and stone,
Nothing brings fear,
But love to all
That is around me.

* Where there is a * the original prayer reads ‘God’, not ‘Love’.

I hope this post provides some food for thought while you prepare for your Valentine’s Day together. If you have any other traditions you’d like to share we’d love to hear about them in the comments section.

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