Happy Valentine's Day
Although many people tout Valentine's Day as a 'Hallmark holiday,' it truly isn't. Since I didn't really know the origins of the holiday, I decided to do a little research. Easier said than done, let me tell you.
The Roman Catholic church recognizes three different martyred saints named Valentine, or Valentinus, and about as many legends exist regarding the beginnings of the holiday. They range from the romantic to the political.
A prevalent one has Valentine, a third century priest, performing
marriages against the orders of Claudius II, who felt single men made
better soldiers and outlawed marriage. The emperor had Valentine put to
death for his actions.
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It is believed that the February celebration of love and romance began as an homage to his works on the anniversary (or thereabouts) of his death or burial.
Another legend has Valentine helping prisoners, who were frequently beaten and tortured, escape from Roman prisons. In love with a young girl, possibly his jailer's daughter, he is often credited with sending the first message signed 'From Your Valentine.' Whether this is the same Valentine who performed marriages against the orders of Claudius II, isn't clear.
Some put forth the theory that the church decided to celebrate St. Valentine's feast day in mid-February to counteract the influence of Lupercalia, a pagan fertility ritual celebrated on the ides of February. Pope Gelasius officially made February 14th St. Valentine's Day somewhere around 498 A.D.
There is even a story from the Middle Ages, that February 14th was believed to be the start of birds' mating season which indicated to the British and French that the middle of February was a time for romance.
Whatever the truth, and I suspect that all of the pieces fit together somehow, have a Happy Valentine's Day!
