The History Of Valentines Day
Valentines Day is a holiday that has been around
for centuries. For generations people have been
falling in love with this holiday while others
have loathed it with a fiery passion. No matter
how you feel about this day, Valentines Day, you
should know that the day is one of significant
meaning in history.
The true and exact history of Valentines Day
may never be known for certain. As it now stands
this history is a murky one filled with many different
tales and interpretations. The most common being
that Valentines Day is named in honor of St. Valentine
who was martyred in the year 250.
As this story would have it in that times there
was a mighty and cruel ruler named Emperor Claudius
II. This was in ancient Rome. Back then February
14th was a holiday that the Romans would celebrate
Juno, the queen of the Gods. On this day girls
and boys would pair up by having names draw out
of a jar. Man y of these couples went on to fall
in love and marry. The problem was that with all
of these people falling in love fewer and fewer
boys were willing to go off to war and fight for
Claudius the Cruel.
The emperor had a way that he thought would solve
all of his problems in one fell swoop. He banned
all engagements and marriages in the whole of
Rome. Needless to say this did not sit well with
anyone but him.
Men and women continued to marry in spite of
this ban and the Christian priests aided them
all that they could. St. Valentines was one of
these brave souls, or so the history of Valentines
Day goes.
St. Valentines was caught and sentenced to a
terrible death. He was to be beaten to death and
then have his head cut off. Supposedly it was
on February 14 that he was martyred.
The church did not martyr him and make him a
saint for wholly honorable reasons some say. The
feast of Lupercalia, which takes place on the
same day, was an ancient heathen custom that they
were dying to get rid of completely. They thought
that if they could simply replace these feasts
and holidays with others then the people would
be more likely to follow them, and they did. So
truly Valentines Day being the day of lovers was
begun long before, even centuries before St. Valentines
was even born during the Lupercalia.
According to some experts St. Valentine fell
in love with his jailers daughter while he was
being held before death. This girl became a close
friend of his and he left her a note when he died
that was signed “From Your Valentine.” And that
is why we still to this day send Valentines Day
cards to those we love and sign them the very
same way.
Over the years Valentines Day has grown away
from the religious day that it once was. It is
now more commercialized but it still holds meaning
for most people, especially those in love. Valentines
Day is a day to celebrate that love and to share
with each other the joy that they feel for each
other.
Many people purchase little gifts for each other
on this day each year but that is not something
that you need to do. This Valentines Day just
tell your lover that you love them and how much
he or she means to you. Tell them how happy you
are to have found them and do something special
together. Even if it is taking a nice walk on
the beach or going for a picnic, take some time
out to appreciate one another. That is what the
true spirit of Valentines Day is all about.
About the Author
Valerie Davis (The Hopeless Romantic) is the owner
of Your Valentine’s Gifts http://www.yourvalentinesgifts.com,
where you can find all your Valentine’s gifts.
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