The history of Valentines Day is a difficult story to tell. We do know that February has long been known as a month of romance, and we know St.Valentines Day is both a Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was St.Valentine? And how did the date of February the 14th become a day of love?
There are two or three different saints known to be named Valentine. But the most well known was St.Valentine who was a priest who lived during the third century in Rome. It is said that the Emperor at the time, Emperor Claudius II, outlawed marriage to young men because he believed single men were better warriors. St.Valentine defied the Emperor and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. Once St.Valentine was caught Emperor Claudius sent him to his death. He died on February 14th, and was then named a saint because of what he died for.
Another story suggests that St.Valentine was a man who helped Christians escape a brutal prison. He fell in love with a girl, known as the jailer’s daughter. St.Valentine sent a greeting to her to show his affection and that note became known as the first “valentine”. He signed his name as “from your valentine”, which is now a common expression used on Valentines Day.
Although the stories are believed differently, it is widely agreed that St.Valentine was a genuine, heroic, and – most importantly – a romantic man. He died on February the 14th around A.D. 270. In the 5th century Pope Gelasius declared February the 14th to be Valentines Day in order to remember St.Valentine. The day instantly became associated with love.
Valentines Day is celebrated in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia. On Valentines Day, friends and lovers of all social classes exchange small notes of affection. Many believe Americans started exchanging Valentines in the early 1700s.
Whether or not this day is important to you, it was founded to celebrate the life of a man who strongly believed everyone should express their love, happiness and affection to those around them. Some believe it is about sharing love to a husband,wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, or loved one, but it is really about showing how much you appreciate the people in your life. So each year, we send valentines to our friends and family to remind them that we love them, because that is what St.Valentine would have wanted us to do.