French Word(s) of the Day: scintillement (sun-teal-mon)- glitter

You can tell it’s that time of year again… Le jour de la Saint–Valentin.  (I don’t know why the French used the feminine definite article for a male saint, but I’m going to roll with it.)

Saint Valentine performed marriage ceremonies for couples at a time when it was illegal for them to marry.  He was imprisoned for his efforts, and eventually stoned and beheaded.  So naturally, we celebrate him with sparkly hearts and chocolate.

Accordingly, the current most-searched terms on my blog are: pink sparkly love hearts, valentine’s day glitter cards, bon saint valentin (spelled various different ways), pink valentine heart gif, and…   Snooki?  I’m not going to dwell on that one.  If you want Snooki to be your valentine, more power to you.

Here’s to love in all its forms!  This lovely street art can be found on rue Saint Lazare.

And because it’s tradition, sparkly pink hearts: