The Barnaby Blog 7 Feb 2025

Woof! What Valentine's Day Is All About: A Tail-Wagging Guide to Love!

Hello my fabulous furriends! Barnaby here, your favorite schnauzer and chief taste-tester at Barnaby & Boo's Cafe and Ice Cream Parlour. scratches ear thoughtfully* You know what's got my tail wagging extra fast lately? All this talk about Valentine's Day! Let me take a little break from sampling our new ice cream flavors to tell you all about it.

A Pawsome History Lesson

Now, as the distinguished host of our establishment, I've done my research (in between naps, of course). Would you believe this whole Valentine's Day business started with not one, but THREE different Saint Valentines? The most famous one was this super brave human who kept performing secret weddings when they weren't allowed. Talk about a rebel - that's almost as daring as me sneaking an extra treat when Boo isn't looking!

Why February 14th Makes My Tail Wag

Here's something that got my ears perked up - apparently, the medieval humans thought February 14th was when birds started their mating season. As someone who enjoys a good bird chase down the Hogsmill (purely for exercise purposes, I assure you), I find this fascinating! They even wrote poems about it. Speaking of which...

Love Around the World (Or As Far As My Daily Walk Takes Me)

Did you know humans celebrate love differently all over the world? In Japan, they give each other chocolate (though sadly, not dog-friendly), and in Wales, they exchange wooden spoons! confused head tilt* I prefer tennis balls myself, but humans are strange sometimes.

The Most Exciting News That's Not About Treats!

GUYS! GUYS! GUYS! We're having a POETRY COMPETITION at Barnaby & Boo's! As your resident literary expert (I'll have you know I've chewed through several classic novels), I'm thrilled to announce our Valentine's Day Poetry Competition!

Here's what's happening at my humble establishment:

You can submit your love poems either in Barnaby & Boo's; or
Enter online by uploading a photograph or pasting your prose;
Enjoy yourself an affogato with a loved one.
Winner will be announced on Valentines Day!
Prizes include Champagne, Chocolates & Barnaby Bucks!

Barnaby's Fun Facts That Made Me Bark in Surprise

The first heart-shaped box of chocolates was made in 1861 (please don't share them with your dogs!)
Teachers get the most Valentine's cards (more than dogs, if you can believe it!)
In Victorian times, different flowers meant different things (red roses for love, though I prefer a nice stick myself)
The X for kisses came from people kissing documents they signed (I prefer giving actual kisses, much more efficient)

Come Join the Puppy Love!

Visit us at Barnaby & Boo's throughout February! I'll be there every day (obviously), wearing my special Valentine's bow tie and ready to be your poetry muse. Who knows? Maybe your love poem will be inspired by my charming schnauzer beard or my distinguished eyebrows!

Remember what my favorite playwright Shakespaw said: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's walk in the park?" Or something like that... I might have been distracted by a squirrel during that literature lesson.

Submit your poems by 5pm on Thursday 13th of February for a chance to win some pawsome prizes! And yes, we'll have special Valentine's Day ice cream flavors (i.e. all of them) that I've personally approved after extensive testing. Very extensive testing. Someone had to do it!

With lots of loving woofs, Barnaby 🐾 Chief Mascot & Literary Critic at Barnaby & Boo's

P.S. Don't forget to follow my adventures on Instagram @barnabyboos where I share my daily thoughts on literature, love, and the ongoing mystery of why humans pretend to throw the ball but keep it in their hands!

Keywords: Valentine's Day, dog-friendly cafe, poetry competition, love poems, Barnaby & Boo's, ice cream parlour, romantic traditions, Saint Valentine, love letters, schnauzer wisdom