The History of Valentines Day
Valentines day comes every year on February 14, but do we really know why this day of love and gifts and who is the patron saint is celebrated?
Well, this day in history was significant to the patron saint named Valentine or Valentinus. Today, this saint is recognized by the Catholic Church, but in third century Rome. Valentine was a priest, during the rule of Emperor Claudius 2. Emperor Claudius 2 decided that single men make better soliders than men with wives and families, so Claudius outlawed marriage for young men, his "crop of potential soliders." Valentine thought this new rule of the emperors to be unjust, so Valentine objected what his emperor said and continued to marry young men in secret ceremonies. When Valentine was discovered, Claudius ordered that Valentine be punished by death.
Story tells that Valentine sent the first ever greeting. While he was in prison, Valentine fell in love with a girl who may have been the jailers young daughter, who visited Valentine during his confined years, and before his death he wrote her a letter signed 'From your Valentine'. From your Valentine is an expression we still put to use today. Although no one really knows the truth about Valentine, we believe what we hear because of its romantic, and simpithetic nature.
Celebration
The first interpretation has this celebration originating as a pagan tradition in the third century. The Roman people started "The Feast of Lubercus" honering the pagan god Lubercus who was to watch over the shepherds and their flocks. Also, during this time the would also honor the goddess Juno Februata. To honor this goddess the names of young women were put into a box and names were drawn by lot. The boys and girls were matched up this was and they were considered partners for the year. As christianity came into the world, the celebration of "The Feast of Lubercus" was changed to St. Valentine's Day and they would change the names of the young women into the names of saints and the people who drew those names had to emulate the saints whose name they had drawn, but in the fourteenth century they changed back to girls names instead of saints but it was unsuccessful as the first attempt.
Symbols found on Valentines Day
Ribbons and frills: have been associated with romance since the days of knighthood when a knight rode into battle with a ribbon or scarf given him by his lady fair. The dictionary states that the word "Lace" comes from Latin word meaning to snare or noose.
Cupid:cupid was one of the gods of mythology. In latin, the word cupid means desire. Cupid is typically a mischievous fellow, who wants people to fall in love.
The Rose: the rose is the most popular flower in the world, it speaks of love and beauty. If you rearrange the letters of the actual word "rose" you get Eros, the god of Love.
Hands: a lady's hands used to be a favorite decoration because they depicted "femininity."
Sources:
The History of Valentines
Romantically Dysfunctional
Valentine
