Hurray, It’s Valentine Day. Show Your Special Love Interest - You Love and Appreciate Him or Her.
Oct 14th, 2008 by Dane Masters
The most awaited day every year is Valentine’s Day or February 14th! Why? It is on this day that one individual expresses his/her love and esteem for another. The gestures used to express such feelings are candy, cards and flowers. Schoolchildren, adults and teenagers–all are eager for this day to come. Youngsters exchange cards which depict symbols of the heart and cupid. Though people remember this day as just being associated with romance, there is a story behind this, and it is associated with a figure called St. Valentine.
Valentine was a Catholic priest who lived in Rome during the 3rd century. Claudius II was the reigning Emperor of Rome at the time, and was having trouble recruiting men into his army, as they were often dispatched to far off lands, and were so separated from their wives and families. Men were reluctant, unwilling to endure this separation from their loved ones.
Extremely upset by what was happening, the Emperor reached the conclusion that young men would be more willing to join his army than the older ones. After all, what did they have to lose since they were unmarried? But to make doubly sure, he passed a law forbidding young men from marrying! Having no choice and finding a willing supporter in Valentine, some young men requested him to perform their marriages in secret. Sadly, he was discovered by Claudius, and arrested. He was kept in prison, to be sentenced to death.
Valentine was often visited in prison by a prison guard’s young daughter. She had been given permission by her father who felt great sympathy for the priest. The two became such close friends that before he was carried away to meet his death sentence, Valentine gave her a letter on which he had written, “From your Valentine”. This has led to the origin of the modern Valentine’s Day.
After his death, Valentine was pronounced a Saint by the Vatican. And to honor his name, Pope Gelasius (as far back as 496 A.D.) declared that the day that Valentine died (February 14th, 270 A.D.) be named as St. Valentine’s Day. This day was to be special as it allowed individuals to express their sentiments of romance and love to one another. Thus, the spiritual world dominated the material world.
Over time, at least by the Middle Ages, this day became very famous and Europe celebrated it with gusto! In 1415, when the Duke of Orleans (Charles) was housed in the Tower of London as a punishment, he dispatched a card to his wife on February 14th. This practice continues on every Valentine’s Day all over the world.
All over Europe, enthusiastic lovers devised various gifts and practices to express their devotion to their lovers on Valentines Day. In Wales, wooden spoons were carved with hearts and keys to show how the recipient could unlock their heart. All over Europe, names were drawn from bowls and then pinned to their sleeves to declare their love to their chosen Valentine. Men offered gifts of clothing to their loved ones. When the woman accepted, they were then betrothed.
Those olden time customs have disappeared today. Other practices have taken their place. But this is the world’s favorite unofficial holiday! Be it a gift of flowers, candy or cards–candlelight dinners or other celebrations, the message of love is the same. And we have St. Valentine to thank for this custom!
