From a collaboration of ancient beliefs, Valentine's Day has evolved into a celebration of love. Beyond the modern day traditions of giving loved ones heart-shaped candies, roses, & lacy cards, lies a holiday with enchanting origins. There are several legends of how February 14th became associated with lovers, flowers, romance & a saint named Valentine.
The first & most simplistic belief, is that lovebirds began to mate on the second week of the second month. Thus, the date was called "Birds' Wedding Day".
Saint Valentine was known as a beloved priest &/or caring doctor. As a physician, he was said to put his heart & soul into his practice, stopping at nothing to help his patients. One legend claims that Valentine was visited by a jailer, pleading his blind daughter's sight restored. Before she could be cured, Valentine was arrested for not worshipping the Roman Gods. The local children brought him flowers for support while he was in jail. Continuing to pray for each of them, as well as the blind girl, he knew his life would soon end. Therefore, Valentine wrote a farewell note to the girl with the message, "from your valentine." When she opened it, a yellow crocus fell out. A true miracle occurred, for she saw the beautiful yellow flower--her sight restored! This is one theory on how the exchange of love notes or "Valentines" began.
Another tale from ancient Rome is of Emperor Claudius II. He believed men were unwilling to leave their love interests behind to defend the Roman empire in war. Therefore, "Claudius The Cruel", as he was called, ordered marriages not be celebrated & engagements broken off. As a Christian priest, Saint Valentine was saddened by the decree. So, he secretly wed couples in his temple, earning him the title, "patron saint of lovers". When the Emperor discovered this, he summoned Valentine to be arrested & then beheaded on February 14th, 270 AD.
Before the St. Valentine legends, Lupercus, God of herds & crops, was honored in the Lupercalia Festival each year. On the ancient calendars, February 14th occurred later, thus Lupercalia was considered a Spring holiday. Dancing & singing abounded, along with a great feast. On the eve of the celebration, the maidens would place their names in a box to be drawn by the bachelors. The matched couples would exchange gifts & become each other's "valentine" or partner throughout the year. They often would fall in love & become married. Lupercalia was later named St.Valentine's Day & has become a cherished celebration of lovers ever since.
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