Valentine's Day
History
of Valentine's Day
Valentine’s
Day has always been the day dedicated to lovers. There are many stories as to
how Valentine’s day started. Here are a few of them.
Lupercalia
Valentine’s
Day has its origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, observed on Feb. 15.
Lupercalia celebrated the coming of Spring in the Roman calendar (February was
observed later in the year than it is today). Lupercalia was associated with
the Roman gods Lupercus and Faunus. Lupercus watched over shepherds and their
flocks and the festival of Lupercalia became a celebration intended to ensure
the fertility of flocks, fields and people.
The
celebration of Lupercalia transformed and spread as the Roman Empire grew. When
the Romans conquered France, it was then that the first Valentine-like cards
may have been exchanged. Apparently, a container in which women had placed
their names (possibly accompanied by love notes) was used in a lottery. Men
drawing a women’s name would either seek or were guaranteed that woman’s
favors.
Saint
Valentine’s Day
The legend
of St. Valentine stems from real-life martyrs from the Roman Empire known as
Valentines. It is unsure who was the St. Valentine, but there are two possible
candidates. One of these Valentines is believed to have been a Roman priest and
physician. He was killed in the third century, during the persecutions of the
Emperor Claudius II. After his death this Valentine was buried in the Roman
road Via Flaminia. Pope Julius I is said to have later built a basilica above
his grave. A second Saint Valentine candidate, believed to be a bishop of Teni
( a province in central Italy), was executed in Rome.
These men’s
status comes from legends of harboring Christians from persecution, curing the
blindness of a cell keeper’s daughter, and conducting marriages while they were
forbidden during times of war. It is this, along with the traditions of
Lupercalia, that came together to honor St. Valentine as the patron saint of
lovers.
Eros-Cupid-Amor
From its
association with Lupercalia, and that day’s connection to fertility, comes St.
Valentine’s association with love and romance. This led Valentine’s enthusiasts
to appoint the Roman god Cupid as a patron of Valentine’s day. Cupid is also
known as Amor or Eros in Greek mythology. Eros seems to have been responsible
for impregnating a number of goddesses and mortals. The ancient Greeks believed
Eros was the force "love," a force they believe was behind all
creation.
There
are several legends about St.Valentine’s Day. One of the legends says that
Valentine was Christian priest who lived in the 3 century A.D. He was put into
prison by roman authorities for his teachings and was beheaded on February 14.
According to the legend he performed a miracle-he cured his jailer’s daughter
of her blindness. Before the execution he wrote her a letter signed “From Your
Valentine”. Another legend says that the same Valentine wrote to children and
friends who loved him from the jail.
According to another legend, Valentine was an
Italian bishop who lived at about the same time. He was thrown into prison
because he secretly married couples, contrary to the laws of the Roman empire.
The legend says that he was burnt at the stake.
Now, St.Valentine’s Day is the day
of sweethearts. On this day, people show their friends relatives and ones that
they care. People send candy or flowers to those whom they love. Most people
send “valentines”, greeting cards named after St.Valentine’s letters written
from jail. Valentines can be sentimental and romantic, or funny and friendly.
Valentines can be anonymous. Valentines can be heart-shaped or can carry hearts
on them. People buy valentines or make them themselves.