 |
 Every
February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged
between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this
mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday?
The history of Valentine's Day -- and its
patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has
long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today,
contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.
So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he
become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church
recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus,
all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a
priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor
Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with
wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of
potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree,
defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in
secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that
he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been
killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons
where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually
sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is
believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have
been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement.
Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he
signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.
Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories
certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most
importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages,
Valentine was one of the most popular saints in ENGLAND
and France. |
