Two late-breaking bits of Vulvatine’s Day stuff (the “heart” is an inverted vulva, by the way), both sent by Carol van Strum. First, how did Valentine’s Day start? Second, seems like ladies like gifts — all kinds of critters, mating is vastly complex.

However the second article referenced contains this statement:

“Female reproduction is resource limited,” said Nina Wedell, an evolutionary biologist from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom. “Eggs are big and nutritious and expensive to produce.” Because they make relatively few of them, females reserve their eggs for the best males — or the best sperm.

This whole concept has been challenged by a new book called Sex at Dawn. Very simply, were it true, so many women would not have kids with such total jerks, or have sex so indiscriminately. The book is a lot of fun.

One last — what we call Valentine’s Day is in my opinion an extension of Imbolc. It’s not a fire holiday, but it’s more interesting than Ground Hog day and it ain’t the Feast of the Purification of Mary — or is it?