HAPPY ST. VALENTINE DAY!!!!
Though it is not known for certain when or how this tradition began
there are some facts that certainly contribute to it:
There were at least two martyrs called Valentine but the most known, half legend, half reality is the following:
- Valentine was a priest who lived in the 3rd century when Rome was ruled by Emperor Claudius
- Emperor
Claudius thought that single men made better soldiers than married ones with
families so he forbid soldiers to get married.
- Valentine
thought that the prohibition was absolutely unfair and he continued to marry
couples in secret.
- He
was discovered, imprisoned and sent to death.
- His
prison guard’s daughter used to visit him and talk to him for hours to keep his
spirits up.
- When
he was put to death on February 14th, 269 he left his loyal friend a
note signed. “ Love from your Valentine”, which started the custom of
exchanging love messages on Valentine’s Day.
LUPERCALIA
Lupercalia was a pagan festival in mid- February in ancient Roman times,
which had little to do with the pure love and romance we now associate St. Valentine’s
Day with.
The Church didn’t like that festival much and in an attempt to Christianize
it, it was decided to celebrate the death of that martyr, St. Valentine.
BIRD
MATING
Although mid-February is a little too early for birds to start mating,
English poet Chaucer in the 4th century didn’t mind and he was the first to link the
Catholic martyr Valentine with love in his poem Parliament of Foules in 1382 and then all the birds, the parliament
of foules, gathered in the Garden of
Love.
Whatever the reason , nowadays it is a day for lovers and close friends
to exchange flowers, confectionery ( chocolates, candy…), greeting cards or any
other kind of gifts
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