Valentine's Day Carnation Sale Fund Raiser

One of the events producing a great benefit for building future homes, the Red Carnation Fund Drive is set for "Sweetheart Week," that week so designated by the Chenango County Board of Supervisors, in which Valentine's Day occurs. This 13th Annual campaign receives the volunteering of over 300 people, a truly living network from some twenty-six (26) communities in Chenango County. It works better and better each year. We really have a living tree for distribution of ordered carnations:

From four Main Centers,

• Greene Zion Episcopal Church
• Norwich Broad Street Methodist Church
• St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Oxford and
• St. Malachy's Roman Catholic Church in Sherburne

orders are picked up and then distributed into twenty (20) communities in Chenango County, as well as into periphery counties.

The distribution concludes around Valentine's Day, as the county blossoms " red" in the colleges, health related areas, adult homes, nursing homes, civic organizations, private homes, real estate offices and restaurants. We know we've been helped by:

• sixty-seven (67) churches in our county,
• one hundred forty (140) businesses,
• staff and student councils of county schools, and the amazing purchasers of each and every Carnation!

A very heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for what you do for us! Here's our Red Carnation for you in thanks!

Participation - Buy a Carnation, Build a House

If you'd like to buy a Carnation, a ½ dozen, a dozen or more, please contact
a person in your area (click here to see the list), or call Audrey Johnson, Chair, at 843-6249, or Joyce Ardron at 843-9747, or Mary Lou Lougheed at 843-5119. The costs are $1.50
for a single, $7.00 for 1/2 dozen and $12.00/dozen.

History

Perhaps you'd like a bit of history about this day we find so special. It originated with an ancient Roman fertility festival called Lupercalia, which was celebrated on February 15th. Around 270AD, Emperor Claudius II was having trouble obtaining citizens interested in fighting battles and handling civil uprisings. Being emperor, he cancelled all marriages and engagements. Ahh, we know though that love always triumphs, and did so through secretly performed marriage ceremonies conducted by two priests, Valentine and Marius. Valentine was caught on a February 14th. He had, it seems, fallen in love with the jailer's daughter. Just before his execution that day he signed a note to her, "From your Valentine."

Although Christianity became Rome's official religion in 391AD, Lupercalia continued to be celebrated until 496AD when Pope Gelasius replaced it with a similar celebration. The Pope needed a saint for the celebration and chose the lovers saint, Valentine. Honoring Valentine further, he moved the celebration date from the 15th to the 14th, the day Valentine died. Since then this day has become more of a day to express love and affection and caring. We'd love it if you chose to express your feelings for someone special by buying Carnations from a connection near you – to keep the tradition alive and healthy.