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The history of Valentines Day
By Valerie Davis
Valentines Day is a holiday that has been around for centuries.
For generations people have been falling in love with this
holiday while others have loathed it with a fiery passion. No
matter how you feel about this day, Valentines Day, you should
know that the day is one of significant meaning in history.
The true and exact history of Valentines Day may never be
known for certain. As it now stands this history is a murky one
filled with many different tales and interpretations. The most
common being that Valentines Day is named in honor of St.
Valentine who was martyred in the year 250.
As this story would have it in that times there was a mighty and
cruel ruler named Emperor Claudius II. This was in ancient
Rome. Back then February 14th was a holiday that the Romans
would celebrate Juno, the queen of the Gods. On this day girls
and boys would pair up by having names draw out of a jar. Man
y of these couples went on to fall in love and marry. The problem
was that with all of these people falling in love fewer and fewer
boys were willing to go off to war and fight for Claudius the
Cruel.
The emperor had a way that he thought would solve all of his
problems in one fell swoop. He banned all engagements and
marriages in the whole of Rome. Needless to say this did not sit
well with anyone but him.
Men and women continued to marry in spite of this ban and the
Christian priests aided them all that they could. St. Valentines
was one of these brave souls, or so the history of Valentines
Day goes.
St. Valentines was caught and sentenced to a terrible death. He
was to be beaten to death and then have his head cut off.
Supposedly it was on February 14 that he was martyred.
The church did not martyr him and make him a saint for wholly
honorable reasons some say. The feast of Lupercalia, which
takes place on the same day, was an ancient heathen custom
that they were dying to get rid of completely. They thought that
if they could simply replace these feasts and holidays with
others then the people would be more likely to follow them, and
they did. So truly Valentines Day being the day of lovers was
begun long before, even centuries before St. Valentines was
even born during the Lupercalia.
According to some experts St. Valentine fell in love with his
jailers daughter while he was being held before death. This girl
became a close friend of his and he left her a note when he died
that was signed "From Your Valentine." And that is why we still
to this day send Valentines Day cards to those we love and sign
them the very same way.
Over the years Valentines Day has grown away from the
religious day that it once was. It is now more commercialized but
it still holds meaning for most people, especially those in love.
Valentines Day is a day to celebrate that love and to share with
each other the joy that they feel for each other.
Many people purchase little gifts for each other on this day each
year but that is not something that you need to do. This
Valentines Day just tell your lover that you love them and how
much he or she means to you. Tell them how happy you are to
have found them and do something special together. Even if it is
taking a nice walk on the beach or going for a picnic, take some
time out to appreciate one another. That is what the true spirit
of Valentines Day is all about.
About the Author
Valerie Davis (The Hopeless Romantic) is the owner of Your Valentine's Gifts http://www.yourvalentinesgifts.com, where you can find all your Valentine's gifts.
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/21090.html
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| Some other articles by Valerie Davis | Valentines Day Ideas For All
Valentines Day is a very special holiday, yet it is one that many
people dread more than anything. Valentines Day is about love
and caring ...
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