Encounter - February 14, 1984 (p. 16) - CARLI Digital Collections Featured Image

Thirty years ago, the University of St. Francis students wrote some articles in their newspaper, The Encounter, to inform the student body of some Valentine's Day traditions around the world. The one I found the most interesting was this one: "In some areas in Italy, people hold a Valentine's Day feast on February 14. In Sicily, some young unmarried women get up before sunrise on Valentine's Day. They stand by their, windows, sometimes for hours, watching for a man to pass the house. Each girl believes that the first man she sees, or someone who looks like him, will become her bridegroom within the year." Can you imagine that?

Giovanna jumped out of bed, grabbing her robe. Today was Valentine's Day! No young men had proposed to her in the last year, so this morning offered another chance to discover her true love. Maybe this was her year! Giovanna pulled her robe close to her body, shivering. Her slippers were on the other side of the room, and it was very chilly, but she didn't want to miss her future bridegroom. She rubbed her hands together to warm them up, and peered through the half-drawn curtains, not wanting anyone to see her standing by the window. Giovanna gasped. Was that a gentleman's hat bobbing behind the hedge? It was! Here he was! This was the man she was going to marry this year! Or perhaps a man who looked like this one, but those were just details. Oh! Oh no! It was old Mr. Antonelli from the library! A kindly widower with five children her own age, Mr. Antonelli worked at a woodshop in town. Giovanna slumped against the wall. Surely she was not destined to marry him! Suddenly she remembered Mr. Antonelli's oldest son David looked a bit like him, and was actually very nice. She thoughtfully stepped into her slippers and made her way downstairs to breakfast, considering all of young David's merits.

It occurs to me that this might have been a good opportunity for young men to get their foot in the door, so to speak!

Written by Julia Thompson, Library Specialist, Western Illinois University

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