Valentine Day – Origin and Today
How this love day began:
With the excitement of Valentine Day in the air, with each couple or group wanting to think of something unique to do to share those happy and romantic moments together, I thought it was the right time that we all understood the real significance of Valentine Day and how it originated, so we could all dwell in enjoying this significant day in the best of spirits and cheers.
My ardent desire to really understand this significant love and cupid day made me to come across various interesting and amusing stories that have come down the ages. Most of us I am sure must have definitely come to the conclusion that there is some significant connection between the popular Cupid symbols of yesteryears and this day. Cupid the Roman god of love was represented by the young boy with an arrow and bow; but was it how this love day started?
Know of legends of Valentine Day:
A popular legend goes that even after 300 years A.D. some Roman emperors demanded that people believe only in the Roman God. St. Valentine, a Christian priest was beheaded on this day; February 14th 269 A.D as he refused to give up Christianity. St Valentine also performed a miracle by curing the jailor’s daughter off her blindness and also wrote a farewell letter to the jailor’s daughter signed, “From Your Valentine.”
There are still some more that believe that St. Valentine was a very much loved by many, both children and friends sent notes to his jail cell as they all adored him and missed him. It was Emperor Claudius. Claudius that executed St Valentine; Pope Gelasius in 496 A.D. decided to set aside February 14th as a day to pay homage and honor St. Valentine.
Another interesting legend says that St Valentine that was a priest in the third century during the reign of Emperor Claudius II in Rome. He defied the king’s order during wartime that young men should not get married as they would not be good soldiers. He continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret and was ultimately put to death by the orders of Emperor Claudius on discovery.
It is interesting that one more legend suggests that Valentine was killed as he tried to rescue Christians from the harsh beating and torture in Roman prisons. It is interesting to however note that the main pointer of these legends was that St Valentine was a heroic and romantic figure.
Spring has always been a time of joy and celebration with some more tracing the origin of Valentine Day to the Feast of Lupercalia that is celebrated as spring festival on 15th February in ancient Rome. It is believed that young men chose young girls randomly to accompany them to the festival; this day moving to February 14th after introduction of Christianity.
Valentine Day today:
This festival of love and romance that is sending happy excitement hormones pumping through each one of us is sure to be welcomed in a positive spirit with its influence now being felt in most countries of the world, with different countries having their own peculiar traditions. Probably the first greeting cards for Valentine Day started off in the 16th century, with greeting cards being produced in a mass scale by the 18th century and fancy lace and ribbon strewn cards being the craze since the 20th century.
Innovation and creativity has lead to roses, hearts and other more methods where couples and those in love have found ways to express their feelings of love, romance and the emotions of making their loved ones feel special. A last romantic note, express your love and romance on Valentine day with chocolates, cakes, flowers and soft toys and romantic yet funny notes.
