Yesterday was Valentine's Day. The young man who often works the dinning room in the Cafe where I
have lunch asked me if I was doing anything special to celebrate. I told him I was going to sacrifice two male goats and a dog, smear
the blood from the goats o
n my face
then wipe it off with wool dipped in milk. Next, after cutting thongs
from the sacrificed goats I was planning to run around flogging
women to promote fertility.
When I finished there was a
silence--not awkward, but not comfortable either. Eventually he spoke,
"That's rather elaborate isn't it?" I couldn't help but laugh. I went on to explained to him this was the way the Roman's celebrated the
Wolf Festival every year on February 15. That is, until 496AD when Pope Gelasius
banned the festival and declared February 14, St. Valentine's Day.
Happy Festival of the Wolf!
* I originally posted this as a comment to a post on Living Among Tourists. I often think I write better comments than I do blogposts. Thanks Martha for bringing out the best in me.
That is awesome. I wish I could have seen his face.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice that you can educate him and it has some shock value too. Thumbs up.
There is a small back story to this. The young man was a little awkward and shy when he first started doing the dining room. He has come a long way. He completely floored me with his response. It was perfect.
Deletelol - love it! Love a "twisted" sense of humor! :)
ReplyDeleteWho you calling "twisted" sister? :)
DeleteYour wit is extraordinary. I hope your better half can appreciate the effort that you are putting into Valentine uhm Wolf Day.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, we both share a similar wit. Sarcasm is the language spoken in the home.
DeleteAlso, fortunately we don't celebrate greeting card holidays...or old Roman holidays either.
So did he stand there with his mouth gaping and give you the polite answer "Mmmm okay " all the while looking for the manager to come bail him out? I have had encounters at work where I have been left speechless and not knowing what to do next. Lol. I bet he went back in the kitchen and said "see that. Guy over there......." happy Wolf day.
ReplyDeleteWe have a building rapport. It has been very nice. He is sort of geeky and it has been fun watching him blossom. I think we both look forward to seeing each other. Everybody in the place knows me by name...and, er..reputation already.
Delete~k
Funny thing is that I've told that story as well, not in that particular setting however. Great that he took it in stride.
ReplyDeleteOr he believed you. Which probably says something about you.
It is one of those great little known facts about Valentine's Day. Just as is our complete lack of knowledge about St. Valentine. There is so little that St. Valentine isn't even on the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church anymore. Oh well, an excuse for chocolate can't be bad.
DeleteAs I've mentioned in response to some other comments this young man and I have a back story. I'm sure he didn't believe that I was truly going to sacrifice the goats and the dogs...that said there was just enough doubt to make it interesting :)
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment,
~keith
:#^)
ReplyDeleteKeith:
ReplyDeletesee what riding a scooter had done for you ? It gives you too much time to think about all this stuff. When I ride, my mind goes blank
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Aaaahhhwwwoooooooooo. Werewolves of Elk Park.
ReplyDeleteor "I used to be a werewolf but I am alright Nowwwoooooo"
I'm glad your alright now...but,
DeleteI hope you're still howling at the moon.
Thanks for stopping by,
~Keith
Circle Blue