THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, February 13, 1997           TAG: 9702130025
SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY KAY REYNOLDS, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   51 lines

VALENTINE'S DAY SYMBOLS ARE AS OLD AS THE SEASONS

SO VALENTINE'S DAY is for the birds. You're right. According to pagan tradition, Feb. 14 is the day when birds choose their mates. Pagans had marriage down to a science. They believed you could find your soul mate by the first bird you saw on Valentine's morning.

Hoping for someone rich? Look for a goldfinch. Doves and sparrows indicate a happy mate. Hawks represent the military or law enforcement. Robins, which obviously thrive here, are for sailors.

The woodpecker is a bad omen, meaning that one would never marry.

As a festival of love, pagan activities continued through the month. February 14 began the Feast of the Lupercal. The month was sacred to Faunus, god of fertility, and Hera, patroness of marriage, childbirth and divorce lawyers. The pairings of the Lupercalia were intended to last and woe to those who broke those vows.

Eventually, Christian authorities banned the Lupercalia in 494 A.D. But it's hard to keep a good revel down - especially one with such personal appeal.

The feast was revamped into one day of celebration and renamed for a saint. imprisoned for helping persecuted Christians. Valentine No. 2 was another Christian martyr who, before his death, scratched a message to his beloved on the wall of his cell, signing it: ``Your Valentine.''

Flamingo tongues and Falernian wine have given way to filet mignon and champagne. Still, romance flourishes on Feb. 14 when symbols as old as the seasons continue to weave their magic around us. VALENTINE'S SYMBOLS

RIBBONS: A favor presented to a soldier, symbolic of true love's devotion.

LACE: The origin means ``to snare or capture.'' From Arabic magic using knots to bind energies. Lace keeps love secure.

ROSES: The flower of romance. Cleopatra spread rose petals on the floor when Mark Anthony would visit, believing the scent would overpower any resistance he might have.

BIRDS: Doves are one of the species who mate for life. A sign of fidelity.

CARDS: During Lupercalia, the young men of Rome would draw lots to find their mates. This practice made its way to old England. These pairing were a good omen for marriage.

CUPIDS: Once struck, there was no recovering from Cupid's arrows. True love everlasting. ILLUSTRATION: Color illustration

Bad omen: Sighting a woodpecker on Valentine's Day meant you'd never

marry.