What’s WOTD + TDIH + HVD, I hear you ask? Well, it’s not just every day you get a 3-in-1. But today’s your lucky day. Notwithstanding the fact that the mercury outside reads 8 below zero this morning, it is still, after all, St. Valentine’s Day. Thus HVD, or Happy Valentine’s Day, Which brings us to TDIH (This Day in History) – see post from two years ago around this time. That one reminds us that today’s holiday is not a birthday, but rather a day for a beheading, and you can read all about it, here. Last but not least, there’s Word of the Day (WOTD) from Merriam Webster. That one is here and below, and it’s defined as “a song in celebration of a marriage.”
In 1595, the newly-wed Edmund Spenser wrote a poem to his young bride. He gave this poem the title Epithalamion, borrowing a Greek word for a song or poem in honor of a bride and bridegroom. Epithalamion, which eventually became established as an English word, can be traced to Greek words that mean “upon the bridal chamber.” A year later, Spencer was inspired to write another nuptial poem — this time in celebration of the marriages of the Earl of Worcester’s two daughters. But since the ceremonies had not yet taken place, he did not want to call it an epithalamion. After some reflection, Spencer decided to separate epi- from thalamion. He wed the latter with pro- (“before”), inventing a word that would become established in the language with the meaning “a song in celebration of a marriage.”
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So, Happy Prothalamion Day all you married lovebirds out there. And stay indoors, y’all. Because at 8 below, you’re liable to freeze off an essential part or two. Come to think of it, maybe that’s better than getting beheaded – but only by a little. I mean, no sense freezing your roses off if you don’t have to.
