Valentine's Day

I want to wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day! May love find you and may love stay by your side.

Here's a story about how this holiday came to be.


For as long as we can remember, Valentine's Day has been celebrated in the month of February all across the United States and in some other countries. People send flowers and buy cards and candy to show their partner how much they love them. But where did this holiday get it's start?

The story of it's patron saint has been shrouded in mystery. It contains both Christian and Ancient Roman traditions. But who is St. Valentine?

The Catholic Church recognizes three St. Valentines or St. Valentinus and all three are martyred. The first story speaks about St. Valentine who served as a Priest during third century in Rome. Emperor Claudius thought that single men made better soldiers than married men, so he outlawed marriage for young men. St. Valentine was outraged and continued to perform secret weddings for young lovers. Emperor Claudius found out and ordered that he be put to death.

It is said that St. Valentine helped imprisoned Christians escape harsh Roman rule and prisons where they were often tortured and beaten.  It is also said that he may have sent the first "valentine" himself. Some believe that he fell in love with a young maid, possibly the jailer's daughter when she would come to visit him during his confinement. Before he died, it is believed that he sent her a letter and signed it, "From your Valentine."  This expression is still used today. It is believed that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate Saint Valentine's death which may have happened around A.D. 270

Regardless if the stories are true or false, they emphasize his his status as heroic and romantic.