Happy

Valentine’s Day

It’s that time of year for giving that special gift that says “I Love You”. Valentine’s Day is so special to me because, it’s when people re-express their feelings like it was the first time, all over again. Many of us don’t even know where this romantic day comes from or how it was started. There are several myths about how it happened.

One myth says: Saint Valentine, according to romantic legend, was a kind-hearted Roman priest who married young couples against the wishes of Emperor Claudius II, and was beheaded for his deeds on the 14th of February. In truth, the exact origins and identity of St. Valentine are unclear. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "At least three different Saint Valentines, all of them martyrs, are mentioned in the early martyrologies under the date of 14 February." Two of these men lived in the third century A.D., one being the bishop of Interamna (now Terni, Italy) and the other a priest of Rome. (Some speculate that these two figures were actually the same man.) Both seem to have been persecuted for their beliefs; the Roman priest reportedly was beaten and then beheaded on the orders of Emperor Claudius II, on or about the year 270. Legends vary on how the martyr's name became connected with romance: the date of his death may have become mingled with the feast of Lupercalia, a pagan festival of love, or with the ancient belief that birds first mate in the middle of February. In modern times Valentine's Day is a day of special romantic sentiment and gift-giving among lovers.

Another story goes like this………..A man named Valentine (was in prison for helping prosecuted Christians), witnessed to his jailer and ended up converting his entire family to Christianity. The jailer also had a blind daughter, Julia, that valentine ended up falling in love with (as well as restoring her sight). But love did not prevail. On the morning of Valentine’s execution, he sent a message to the daughter signed, From “Your valentine”.

It’s just a matter of fact that over a period of time men lose a lot of the romantic feeling that they had the beginning of a relationship. Valentine’s Day has become a medium for expressing their love for their wives. I can remember a time when my father would have moved Heaven and Earth to get a single red rose for my mother on this special day. For all women, there is nothing more flattering than being wooed on this like it was the first time when he gave you a box of candy and flowers with that special phrase: “Will You Be My Valentine!” I guess it is a fair assumption to say “Valentine’s Day is for all women of the world, to rekindle a love and emotions for that special someone in life. I think it is for the young especially when love is new. Valentine’s Day is for all those who are young at heart and remember what it was like the first time. This is especially for the young, because it is a sparkle in your eyes that only comes once and it is when Love is New.

History Channel: The History of Valentine's Day. 14 February 2010 .

The History of Valentine. 14 February 2010 .