Saint Valentine's Day

1. Saint Valentine's Day • SaintValentine'sDay (commonlyshortenedtoValentine'sDay) isanannualcommemorationheldonFebruary 14 celebratingloveandaffectionbetweenintimatecompanions. ThedayisnamedafteroneormoreearlyChristianmartyrsnamedValentineandwasestablishedbyPopeGelasius Iin AD 500. Itistraditionally a dayonwhichloversexpresstheirloveforeachotherbypresentingflowers, offeringconfectionery, andsendinggreetingcards (knownas "valentines"). ThedayfirstbecameassociatedwithromanticloveinthecircleofGeoffreyChaucerintheHighMiddleAges, whenthetraditionofcourtlyloveflourished. • ModernValentine'sDaysymbolsincludetheheart-shapedoutline, doves, andthefigureofthewingedCupid. Sincethe 19th century, handwrittenvalentineshavelargelygivenwayto mass-producedgreetingcards. • Romantic legends • The Early Medieval acta of either Saint Valentine were expounded briefly in LegendaAurea]According to that version, St Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman EmperorClaudius II in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed. Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing the blind daughter of his jailer. • Since LegendaAurea still provided no connections whatsoever with sentimental love, appropriate lore has been embroidered in modern times to portray Valentine as a priest who refused an unattested law attributed to Roman EmperorClaudius II, allegedly ordering that young men remain single. The Emperor supposedly did this to grow his army, believing that married men did not make for good soldiers. The priest Valentine, however, secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young men. When Claudius found out about this, he had Valentine arrested and thrown in jail. • There is an additional modern embellishment to The Golden Legend, provided by American Greetings to History.com, and widely repeated despite having no historical basis whatsoever. On the evening before Valentine was to be executed, he would have written the first "valentine" card himself, addressed to a young girl variously identified as his beloved, as the jailer's daughter whom he had befriended and healed, or both. It was a note that read "From your Valentine."

2. Historical facts • Historical facts • Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine.The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (Valentinuspresb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinusep. Interamnensis m. Romae).Valentine of Romewas a priest in Rome who was martyred about AD 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. His relics are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome,and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland. Valentine of Terni became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been martyred during the persecution under Emperor Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino). • The Catholic Encyclopedia also speaks of a third saint named Valentine who was mentioned in early martyrologies under date of February 14. He was martyred in Africa with a number of companions, but nothing more is known about him. • No romantic elements are present in the original early medieval biographies of either of these martyrs. By the time a Saint Valentine became linked to romance in the fourteenth century, distinctions between Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni were utterly lost. • In the 1969 revision of the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints, the feastday of Saint Valentine on February 14 was removed from the General Roman Calendar and relegated to particular (local or even national) calendars for the following reason: "Though the memorial of Saint Valentine is ancient, it is left to particular calendars, since, apart from his name, nothing is known of Saint Valentine except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14." The feast day is still celebrated in Balzan (Malta) where relics of the saint are claimed to be found, and also throughout the world by Traditionalist Catholics who follow the older, pre-Vatican II calendar.

3. Similar days honoring love • Valentine's Day is called SevgililerGünü in Turkey, which translates into "Sweethearts' Day". • According to Jewish tradition the 15th day of the month of Av - TuB'Av (usually late August) is the festival of love. In ancient times girls would wear white dresses and dance in the vineyards, where the boys would be waiting for them (MishnaTaanith end of Chapter 4). In modern Israeli culture this is a popular day to pronounce love, propose marriage and give gifts like cards or flowers. • In Denmark and Norway, Valentine's Day (14 Feb) is known as Valentinsdag. It is not celebrated to a large extent, but many people take time to eat a romantic dinner with their partner, to send a card to a secret love or give a red rose to their loved one. In Sweden it is called Allahjärtans dag ("All Hearts' Day") and was launched in the 1960s by the flower industry's commercial interests, and due to the influence of American culture. It is not an official holiday, but its celebration is recognized and sales of cosmetics and flowers for this holiday are only exceeded by those for Mother's Day. • In Finland Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's day". As the name indicates, this day is more about remembering all your friends, not only your loved ones. In Estonia Valentine's Day is called Sõbrapäev, which has the same meaning. • In Slovenia, a proverb says that "St Valentine brings the keys of roots," so on February 14, plants and flowers start to grow. Valentine's Day has been celebrated as the day when the first work in the vineyards and in the fields commences. It is also said that birds propose to each other or marry on that day. Nevertheless, it has only recently been celebrated as the day of love. The day of love is traditionally March 12, the Saint Gregory's day. Another proverb says "Valentin - prvispomladin" ("Valentine — first saint of spring"), as in some places (especially White Carniola) Saint Valentine marks the beginning of spring.

4. Valentine’s symbols • CupidThe love and attraction that a man and a lady feels for one another is traditionally ascribed to the mythological god,Cupid.In Latin, the word Cupid means "desire." Cupid is represented as a naked, chubby boy with wings and possessing a mischievous smile. He carries a bow with a quiver of arrows which he uses to transfix the hearts of youths and maidens. Click here to know more on Cupid. • The RoseFrom time immemorial, beloveds have been compared to roses. If we juggle the letters of the word ROSE we get EROS, who is the God of Love. Rose has thus been the traditional choice of lovers around the world. The colour red is associated with strong emotions and below are listed sentiments expressed by different hues of rose • Doves and Love BirdsIt was the popular belief that birds chose their mate for the year on February 14.Since doves and pigeons mate for life ,they symbolize loyalty, fidelity and love. Lovebirds, the small birds with colorful plumage, commonly found in Africa, are so called because they tend to get cozy with each other and can't survive without each other. pairs. Doves...common urban birds, shy and gentle by nature, with a distinctive "cooing" call...symbolize loyalty, fidelity and love . HeartIt was formerly believed that the heart was the seat of all human emotions. Accordingly, the gifting of a heart signified the selfless act of giving everything to someone you love. Though the ancients were not aware that the heart was responsible for pumping blood though the circulatory system, yet they knew one thing for sure that the heart was the center of all feelings. This ancient belief has lingered on through the ages. Ribbons, Laces and FrillsRibbons and laces have been associated with love and romance since the days when a knight used to ride into a battle sporting the scarf or handkerchief presented to him by his ladylove. In the bygone times, laces were used making women's handkerchiefs. It was also usual for a lady to drop her handkerchief in the path of the man whose attention she wished to draw. 

5. Poems for Love • I miss you terribly this day of love,Miss you with a wound that stabs and aches.I see the love around me, and it takesSo much strength simply just to move.Soon, soon, my love, this waiting will be done.You and I will have what we desire.On days like this we'll sit beside the fire,Undoing all the pain of days long gone. Only LoveLove can sometimes be fresh.Love can sometimes be new.Love can sometimes make you happy.And sometimes make you blue.Love is the light that radiates from your eyes.Love is your image floating in the skies.Love is true.And darling, the only love for me is you. Valentine's Day is a day of loveWhere love is as bright as the sunWe share kisses, and even a hugWith people we call our loved onesUnrequited love is oh! so harshWhen the one you love doesn't love youYou feel you're left standing in the darkWishing this reality were untrueWell that's why Valentine's Day is so greatIt encourages you to show you careIt makes you just wanna sayI love you and will always be thereI once loved someone in this wayAnd I was encouraged on Valentine'sI went up to him, just to sayI would like you to be mine