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About Valentines Day
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About Valentines Day - St. Valentine's Day History
We celebrate Valentines day every February, sending gifts, candy, flowers, and cards to our loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. Who is St. Valentine and what is the history of st. valentine's day?
The History of Valentine's Day
The history of Valentine's Day and its patron saint, St. Valentine, is a mystery. We know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains has it's origins in both Christian and ancient Roman traditions.
So, who was Saint Valentine anyhow? And how did he become the Valentine's Day patron saint for this ancient celebration? The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend offers the explanation that Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he disallowed marriage for young men -- the ones who would be his potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing this injustice, defied Claudius' ruling and continued performing marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secrecy. When Claudius discovered Valentine's actions he ordered that Valentine be put to death. Other legends imply that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape from the Roman prisons.
According to one story, Valentine was the one who sent the first 'valentine' greeting. It is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl while he was in a Roman prison. The girl may have been the jailor's daughter, who visited him during his incarceration. The legend suggests that he wrote her a letter, and signed it "From your Valentine,". It's amazing that, on Valentine's Day that expression is still used today. The history of the Valentine legends is quite unclear. But, the different versions seem to portray Valentine as a sympathetic, heroic, and romantic figure.
Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February -- Valentine's Day -- should be a day for romance. By the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.
The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans ...Continue reading...
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