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Sunday, February 7, 2010

Valentine's Day






The history of Valentine's Day is shrouded in mystery. Some legends speaking of a Roman priest who married lovers in secret against the dictate of Emperor Claudius II, while others draw from the Roman pagan festival of Lupercalia.

Every 14th 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.

There are three different stories about the possible identity of the man the Valentine holiday was named for. One story speaks of a Roman Catholic priest who went against the edict of Emperor Claudius II, who believed that unmarried men made better soldiers. Claudius made it illegal for his soldiers to marry, but Valentine secretly married couples. When his betrayal was discovered, Claudius had him imprisoned. It is said that Valentine fell in love with his jailer's daughter, and just as he was to be executed, he slipped her a love letter that he signed, "Your Valentine.




Very little is known about the third St. Valentine, a martyred minister who spread Christianity throughout the province of Africa. Few scholars actually believe that this particular Valentine has any association with the Valentine's Day holiday.

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.





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.



While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 14, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.