Today is Día de San Valentín (St. Valentine’s Day) and children, friends and lovers all over the world will be celebrating.Valentine’s Day began as formal worship celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. The most popular martyrs in history is Saint Valentine as he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. During his imprisonment, he is said to have healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius. Legend states that before his execution he wrote “from your Valentine” as a farewell to her.
Side note: Besides flowers, chocolate and teddy bears some men of Mexico have a unique way of showing their affection to their lovers. In the evening, they show up at the home of their lover with a mariachi band or trio of singers who serenade her with 2 or 3 romantic songs while standing beneath her window.
(I can only hope this might happen to me. After all, my window does face a street of mariachi players on the third floor.)
But enough of the short history lesson. Let’s started on those love-suckers.
What you will need:
- White Index cards (cheaper) or card stock
- Watercolors
- Paint Brush
- Scissors
- Pen
- Glue Stick or Tape
- Suckers
Paint the card stock in colors you love. Being that I am in Mexico, I chose to make my treats colorful and Valentine’s Day in the Yucatan isn’t limited to red, pink and white .
After you paint the card let it dry for 5 minutes and flick a darker color all over, leaving paint splotches.
Let dry for about 15 minutes.
Draw a heart on a the index card or card stock and cut it out. This will be your template for tracing.
After the index card dries turn it over and trace the heart on the back fitting as many as possible.
Cut the hearts out.
With your pen write a Valentine’s Day message. I choose Spanish phrases because I want the ninos to be able to read them. This is also a great way to practice another language with your child as you write the messages on the heart. Latin or another language would be fun too.
Apply glue or tape to the back and adhere it to the sucker.
Feliz Dia de San Valentin!
Slangshot 