Love is in the air, so they say. The celebration appears to
date back to ancient Rome when 13, 14 and 15 February were celebrated as
Lupercalia, a pagan fertility festival.
There are various legends of who St Valentine was and how
Valentine’s Day came about. One story is that the Roman emperor Claudius ll
executed Valentine, a priest on 14 February AD270 for marrying men and women
when the emperor had strictly forbidden marriage. Claudius believed that single
men were better soldiers than those with wives and families.
Valentine, according to the story, while in prison fell in
love with the jailer’s blind daughter whose sight he restored with the strength
of his love. Shows what love can do! Before his execution, he, reputedly, sent
her a note signed “From your Valentine”. It was circa AD496, that Pope Gelasius
declared 14 February to be St Valentine’s Day.
Chaucer, in the 14th
century, in his poem, “The Parliament of Fowls” written to celebrate the
marriage of Richard ll and Anne of Bohemia wrote: “For this was on St
Valentine’s Day/When every fowl cometh
there to choose his mate.” It was this that is believed to be the first linking
of romantic love with this date, although it is more likely to be referring to
a date in May which honoured Valentine of Genoa. Apparently, it was King Henry
Vlll in 1537 who declared 14 February an official holiday. I guess he knew a
thing or two about love.
The oldest written Valentine dates back to the 1400s written
by Charles, the Duke of Orleans to his wife while a prisoner in the Tower of
London. By the middle of the 18th century, it was the custom to exchange
handwritten notes of affection.
Over time the day evolved and is now is celebrated worldwide.
Cupid and red hearts are traditional symbols of the occasion which has now been
turned into a money spinner.
By Daralyn Danns
