Valentine

Who is Valentine and why do we celebrate February 14th?
One legend has it that it began in Rome when the Emperor Claudius II was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. “Claudius the Cruel” was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. Claudius believed that the reason was that Roman men did not want to leave their loved ones. So Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome!

Valentine, who was a priest in Rome in the year 269 AD, together with his friend Marius, defied Claudius and performed marriages in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, he was sentenced to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off.

Whilst in prison Valentine fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement. Before his death on the 14th day of February, it is said that he wrote her a letter signed " From your Valentine."

In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius set aside February 14th to honour Valentine.

Another legend says that Valentine's Day started in ancient Rome, on February 14th, a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. Then, the following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.

In those days, the lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, on the eve of the festival of Lupercalia, the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars.

Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and marry.

Tradition had it that men would give ladies flowers and other gifts on February 14 in remembrance of Valentine who has symbolized love. Valentine cards were a recent invention though. In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine card. Commercial valentine cards were introduced in the 1800's.

With the advent of the internet, we have given Valentine's Day a new meaning with electronic cards and long distance affirmation of love and devotion.

Allow me to join the band.

To my beloved, Jenn, I won't greet you a happy Valentine's Day but I give you a commitment that I will love you forever.