VALENTINE'S DAY ORIGIN

Hello all....Wishing Valentine is not only for the reason to be romantic, not only for boyfriend and girlfriend or lovers but for everyone, especially those we love, we care for like our parents and friends.

Do we know the real story behind this so called romantic celebration? There are many version of the origin or history of Valentine.

First theory is the christianization of Lupercalia. In Ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honor Juno, Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Feast of Lupercalia started the next day. During these times boys and girls were segregated. However, the young people had a custom that began on the eve of the Festival of Lupercalia in which girl’s names were written on pieces of paper and inserted into jars. Each boy then drew a girl’s name from the jar and they were partners throughout the Festival. After being paired, the children would often continue to see each other throughout the year and on occasion even fell in love and got married.

Emperor Claudius II of Rome, also known as Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time recruiting men as soldiers. He believed that the men did not want to leave their sweethearts and cancelled all engagements and marriages throughout Rome.

A legend said, a third-century priest in Rome at the time, St. Valentine, defied the ban against wartime marriages and performed secret marriages until he was eventually caught. He was beaten to death and beheaded on February 14th, around the year 270. Lupercalia was a feast to a heathen God. Pastors and priests of the early Christian church did away with the pagan custom by replacing the names of the girls with the names of saints. They chose St. Valentine’s Day as the day of celebration for the new feast.

There's another legend in which a Valentine, persecuted for helping Christians, restored the eyesight of his jailer's blind daughter, and then maintained a secret correspondence with her to which he signed his name "your Valentine."

Valentine Day greetings became popular during the middles ages in which lovers sang or spoke their sentiments. Paper and written Valentines became popular at the end of the 15th Century. In early years Valentine cards were handmade. Nowadays….u can buy a Valentine card almost anywhere.

So…that’s it…what do you think?
Hmmm.......long story huh?

hmmp....quite long but im lovin it.its okay though.the second story about valentine is so....sad and sweet.that shows love is quite important.

HAPPY VALENTINE DAY!