How did Valentine's Day begin?
February 14 is Valentines Day, the day on which we celebrate and explore love in all it's many ideals. How a day for lovers came to be celebrated during the middle of February is an interesting and ages old story. The story of Valentines Day begins during the heyday of the Roman Empire, which held a festival every February. This Lupercian Festival was held in honor of the God of Fertility and during the festivities young men would get to choose their mate. At the time marriage was a common occurrence, but when Claudius became Emperor he changed all of that. Fearing that men would refuse their duty to fight because they would not want to leave their wives behind, he outlawed all marriages. Young couples still fell in love though and still wished to marry and they took these desires to the Catholic Bishop Valentine who, understanding love, began to secretly marry couples. When Claudius found out, he had Valentine arrested and ordered put to death. While waiting in jail, Valentine began exchanging letters with the jailer's daughter and soon had fallen in love with her. The day he was to be beheaded, he wrote her one last note and signed it: "˜From Your Valentine'.
There are varying opinions about the origin of Valentine's Day. Some believe it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that among the things St. Valentine refused to give up was marrying Christians in the Christian Church. On the day of his death, it was said that he left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine".
Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.
Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages, and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date is still marked, to this day, by sending poems and simple gifts to your sweetheart.
In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's, and now the date is very commercialized. The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business each year on Valentine's Day. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.
Florists are busiest on Valentine's Day, and roses are the traditional flower sent on Valentine's Day, with the color of the flowers being symbolic. Traditionally, red roses are symbolic of love, pink roses (said to have bloomed from Mother Mary's tears as she followed her son up Golgotha) are symbolic of Mother's love, yellow roses symbolize caring and friendship, while white roses are symbolic of purity.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino
There are varying opinions about the origin of Valentine's Day. Some believe it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that among the things St. Valentine refused to give up was marrying Christians in the Christian Church. On the day of his death, it was said that he left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine".
Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.
Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages, and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date is still marked, to this day, by sending poems and simple gifts to your sweetheart.
In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's, and now the date is very commercialized. The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business each year on Valentine's Day. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.
Florists are busiest on Valentine's Day, and roses are the traditional flower sent on Valentine's Day, with the color of the flowers being symbolic. Traditionally, red roses are symbolic of love, pink roses (said to have bloomed from Mother Mary's tears as she followed her son up Golgotha) are symbolic of Mother's love, yellow roses symbolize caring and friendship, while white roses are symbolic of purity.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino
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