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Every
February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are
exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.
But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this
holiday?
The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is
shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a
month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today,
contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.
So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with
this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least
three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom
were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who
served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II
decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives
and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of
potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the
decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for
young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered,
Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest
that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help
Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten
and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first
'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that
Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his
jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement.
Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which
he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in
use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is
murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a
sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's
no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most
popular saints in England and France.
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