Valentine's Day Superstitions

Valentine's love superstitions. Superstitions about Valentine.

(1725) The names of a select number of one sex, are by an equal number of the other put into some vessel; and after that, every one draws a name, which is called their Valentine, and is also looked upon as a good omen of their being man and wife afterwards.
In 1866, young people write names on slips of paper, placing those of lads and lasses in separate bags apart. The maidens draw from the former, the young men from the latter, three times in succession..If one person takes out the same name three times, it is that of the future husband or wife.
(1698) There is another kind of Valentine; which is the first young man or woman that chance throws in your way, in the street or elsewhere on that day. That becomes your valentine.
(1812) The first person of the opposite sex who is seen, is generally esteemed the Valentine for the year, whether consonant to 'choice' or not. Some young gentlemen and ladies, in order to remedy this uncertainty, contrive to be brought together blindfold.
(1755) Mr. Blossom was my man; and I lay a-bed and shut my eyes all the morning of Valentine's Day, till he came to our house; for I would not have seen another man before him for all the world.
(1872) The belief is universal that if you are single, the first unmarried person you meet outside the house on St. Valentine's Day will exercise an important influence over your future destiny. Fortunately there is a simple way of evading the hand of Fate, open to those who desire a greater freedom in their choice of a partner in wedlock - at least, if they are willing to remain indoors till the expiration of the spell at twelve p.m.

The source for this information is A Dictionary of Superstitions, Edited by Iona Opie and Moira Tatem and published by Oxford Press.

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