Happy Valentine's Day
February 14, 2007
The
History of Valentine's Day |
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Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts
are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St.
Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why
do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's
Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery.
But we do know that February has long been a month of romance.
St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains
vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So,
who was Saint Valentine and how did he become
associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church
recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine
or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest
who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius
II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with
wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his
crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing
the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to
perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's
actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to
death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have
been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman
prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually
sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison,
it is believed that Valentine fell in love
with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter
-- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death,
it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From
your Valentine,' an expression that is still
in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine
legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal
as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure.
It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine
was one of the most popular saints in England and France.
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