|
‘Legend’ of love: Family preserves tradition of Valentine Aardvark
By Cynthia McMullen
Times-Dispatch Staff Writer
Easter has its rabbit, Groundhog Day its woodchuck and Valentine’s Day its . . . aardvark.
That’s according to the late Ron Mitchell of Washington state, who originated the “legend” of the Valentine Aardvark in the mid-1970s.
Mitchell died about 14 months ago, but his wife, eight children and 19 grandchildren are carrying on the tradition.
So how did the aardvark show up on the East Coast?
One of Mitchell’s children, Marissa, married Richmond native Denton Romans. The couple and their three children, ages 1, 3 and 5, live in Henrico County.
Romans said her dad combined two enthusiasms — family traditions and wildlife — to come up with the memorable and unusual custom.
“He’d bring crazy animals home,” she fondly recalled of her father, a biologist.
Mitchell never brought home an aardvark. But that didn’t stop him from creating the tale of the Valentine Aardvark, who delivered toys and candy on Valentine’s Eve . . . but only to children who made pouches to fill.
“I do remember wondering how he got into our house,” Romans said, laughing. Her childhood home was heated via floor vents, which is where her dad said the aardvark came in.
(A tight squeeze, indeed. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, an aardvark typically weighs between 88 and 143 pounds.)
Romans also thought it was strange that the aardvark didn’t visit her schoolmates.
Be that as it may, she and her siblings made construction-paper pouches every year to leave out on Valentine’s Eve.
The next morning, the pouches would be filled with items such as socks, ponytail elastics, bracelets and candy.
All of the Mitchell offspring — now ages 21 to 37 — have kept the tradition and passed it on to their children.
“It wouldn’t be Valentine’s without the Valentine Aardvark,” said Romans, 31.
To pay tribute to their father, preserve the tradition and foster other family traditions, the family launched a Web site last month: http://www.valentineaardvark.com.
The site includes information about the tradition, games, pouch instructions and suggestions on how to celebrate.
The Valentine Aardvark even has a motto: “All you need is love . . . and ants.”
The site also features a 30-year-old aardvark story by Romans’ brother, Chad Mitchell. He’s behind the drive to spread the tradition.
Romans’ husband created the Web site, and her brother-in-law, Elijah Stanfield, designed the logo.
“Ultimately,” Romans said, “we want to help families get together.”
The Web site has received about 1,000 hits so far.
“It’s all just family — and a lot of friends have e-mailed to say they want to start the tradition — but I’m really happy with the feedback,” Romans said.
“So many people are saying, ‘We didn’t do anything for Valentine’s, and now we’re happy to have something.’ “
Have a family tradition you’d like to share? E-mail .
Contact Cynthia McMullen at (804) 649- 6361 or .
|
