Born in Rome 14th February Lupercalia, was a product of a Roman fertility rite; which entailed his father to pick a name from an urn and mate with a stranger till a child was born. Under the leadership of Pope Gelasius the circumstances surrounding his birth were deemed an un-Christian act and was forced to change his name to Valentine. As he grow he learnt that in England and France his birthday coincided with the mating of birds, he thought that to be romantic. With such a fate of love on his life he thought it noble that he bring love birds together, so he became a priest. In his time of service he befriended two men in the Catholic Church who too were named Valentine but, were sadly martyred.
He continued his quest to bring love birds together yet Emperor Claudius II disagreed; he needed focused soldiers and unmarried soldier were the best kind. In all him power the Emperor prohibited the marriage of young people. In all secrecy St. Valentine continued to bring young birds together. The Emperor however found out and locked him away to never see day light again. St. Valentine’s jailer had a blind daughter, Julia whom he grew fond of, he prayed with her everyday till her sight was restored. A love grew between the too, but to his heart's demise the love would never blossom for he was to be executed. In his last days he wrote a letter to his love, dear Julia, signed From Your Valentine. St. Valentine was executed on the 14th of February and buried in the Church of Praxedes in Rome; out of love Julia planted red roses by a tree near his grave.
To keep her loves memory alive she had cards made and told friends to share them with a love one. A tradition grew, by her death every 14th of February celebrated her first love. Today Valentine’s day is the second most popular card-sending holiday after Christmas grossing 15 million cards exchanged annually.
The actual history of Valentine’s Day is a mystery, the day itself is beautiful and tragic…
….however yours may go Happy Valentine’s Day.
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