History Of Valentines Day:
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The reason behind this is a kindly cleric named Valentine who died more than a thousand years.
It is unclear why 14 February is known as Valentine's Day or if the noble Valentine really had any relation to this day. The history of Valentine's Day is impossible to be obtained from any archive and the veil of centuries the origin behind this day more difficult to trace. It is only some legends that are our source for the history of Valentine's Day.
Celebrating the Feast of the modern Valentine were derived from both ancient Christian and Roman tradition. According to legend, the festival is at the origin of the old Roman feast of Lupercalis / Lupercalia, a fertility celebration that used to observed annually on February 15. But the rise of Christianity in Europe saw many pagan holidays being renamed and dedicated to the martyrs of the early Christians. Lupercalia was no exception. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius turned Lupercalia into a Christian feast day and set its observance a day earlier, on February 14. He proclaimed February 14 the day of the feast of St. Valentine, a Roman martyr who lived in the third century. It is this Valentine's Day pays tribute to the modern day Valentine's Day.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, there were at least three early Christian saints by the name of St. Valentine. While one was a priest in Rome, another was a bishop of Terni. Nothing is known about the third St. Valentine except that he met his end in Africa. Surprisingly, all three of them were martyred on February 14.
It is clear that Pope Gelasius intended to honor the first of these three men mentioned above. Most researchers believe that Valentine was a priest who lived around 270 AD in Rome and attracted the disfavor of Roman emperor Claudius II who ruled during this period.
The history of Valentine has two different versions - the Protestant and the Catholic. Both versions agree on Valentine's Day is a bishop who held secret marriage ceremonies of soldiers against Claudius II who had prohibited marriage for young men and was executed by the latter . During the period of Valentine, the golden age of the Roman empire had almost come to an end. Lack of quality administrators led to frequent civil war. Education has decreased, increased taxes and trade had a very bad time. The Roman Empire the crisis from all sides, from the Gauls, Slavs, Huns, Turks and Mongolians from Northern Europe and Asia. The empire had grown too large to be protected from external aggression and internal chaos with existing forces. Of course, men are increasingly able to be recruited as soldiers and officers to protect the nation from takeover. When Claude became the emperor, he felt that married men were more emotionally attached to their families, and thus, will not make good soldiers. He believed that marriage made the men weak. So he issued an edict forbidding marriage to assure quality soldiers.
The ban on marriage was a great shock for the Romans. But they dared not voice their protest against the mighty emperor. Goodness bishop Valentine also realized the injustice of the decree. He saw the trauma of young lovers who gave up all hope of being united in marriage. He planned to counter the monarch's orders in secrecy. Whenever lovers thought of marrying, they went to Valentine who met them afterwards in a secret place, and joined them in the sacrament of marriage. And thus he secretly performed many marriages for young lovers. But things can not stay hidden for long. It was only a matter of time before Claude was aware of this "friend of lovers," and had him arrested.
Awaiting his sentence in prison, Valentine was approached by his jailor, Asterius. It was said that Valentine had capacity saints and one of them gave him the power to heal people. Asterius had a blind daughter and knowing of the miraculous powers of Valentine he requested the latter to restore the sight of his blind daughter. Legend has it that Valentine Catholic is through the vehicle of his strong faith, a phenomenon refuted by the Protestant version which agrees otherwise with the Catholic faith. Whatever the reality, it seems that Valentine's somehow managed to help the blind girl Asterius. "
When Claudius II met Valentine, he was said to have been impressed by the dignity and conviction of the latter. However, Valentine refused to agree with the emperor regarding the ban on marriage. It is also said that the emperor tried to convert Valentine to the Roman gods, but was unsuccessful in his efforts. Valentine refused to recognize Roman Gods and even attempted to convert the emperor, knowing the consequences fully. This angered Claudius II who gave the order of execution of Valentine.
Meanwhile, a deep friendship had been formed between Valentine and Asterius his daughter. " It caused great pain to the girl to learn the impending death of his friend. It is said that just before his execution, Valentine asked for a pen and paper from his jailor, and signed a farewell message to her "From Your Valentine," a phrase that lived ever. According to another legend, Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his jailer during his imprisonment. However, this legend is not given much importance by historians. The most plausible story surrounding St. Valentine is one not centered on Eros (passionate love) but on agape (Christian love): he was martyred for refusing to renounce his religion. Valentine is believed to have been executed 14 February 270 AD.
And 14th February became a day for all lovers and Valentine became the patron saint. It began to be annually observed by young Romans who offered handwritten greetings of affection, known as Valentines, on this day the women they admire. With the advent of Christianity, the day came to be known as Valentine's Day.
But it was not until the 14th century that Valentine's Day became definitively associated with love. UCLA researcher Henry Ansgar Kelly medieval author of "Chaucer and the Cult of Saint Valentine", credits Chaucer as the one who first linked St. Valentine's Day romance. In medieval France and England it was believed that birds mated on February 14. Therefore, Chaucer used the image of birds as the symbol of love poems dedicated to the day. In Chaucer's "The Parliament of Fowls," the royal engagement, the mating season of birds, and Valentine's Day are linked:
"Because it was the day of Valentine's Day, when every bird comes there to choose his mate."
In the Middle Ages, Valentine became as popular as to become one of the most popular saints in England and France. Despite attempts by the Christian church to sanctify the holiday, the association of Valentine's Day with romance and court continued through the Middle Ages. The festival has evolved over the centuries. By the 18th century, gifts and exchange handmade cards on Valentine's Day has become common in England. Homemade valentine cards lace, ribbons, and featuring cupids and hearts began to be created in this day and delivered to the man or woman one loved. This tradition eventually spread to the American colonies. It was not until the 1840s that Valentine's Day greeting cards began to be commercially produced in the United States the first American Valentine's Day greeting cards were created by Esther A. Mount Holyoke Howlanda, graduate and native of Worcester. Mass. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap". It was when Howland began Valentine's cards in a large scale that the tradition really took the United States.
Today, Valentine's Day is one of the major holidays in the United States and became a smashing success commercially. According to the Greeting Card Association, 25% of all cards sent each year are "valentine" s. The "valentines", as Valentine's Day cards are better known than are often designed with hearts to symbolize love. Valentine card spread Christianity, and is now celebrated throughout the world. One of the earliest valentines was sent in 1415 AD by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife during his imprisonment in the Tower of London. The card is now preserved in the British Museum.
There may be doubts regarding the actual identity of Valentine, but we know that he really existed because archaeologists have recently discovered a catacomb and an ancient Roman church dedicated to Saint Valentine.
It is unclear why 14 February is known as Valentine's Day or if the noble Valentine really had any relation to this day. The history of Valentine's Day is impossible to be obtained from any archive and the veil of centuries the origin behind this day more difficult to trace. It is only some legends that are our source for the history of Valentine's Day.
Celebrating the Feast of the modern Valentine were derived from both ancient Christian and Roman tradition. According to legend, the festival is at the origin of the old Roman feast of Lupercalis / Lupercalia, a fertility celebration that used to observed annually on February 15. But the rise of Christianity in Europe saw many pagan holidays being renamed and dedicated to the martyrs of the early Christians. Lupercalia was no exception. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius turned Lupercalia into a Christian feast day and set its observance a day earlier, on February 14. He proclaimed February 14 the day of the feast of St. Valentine, a Roman martyr who lived in the third century. It is this Valentine's Day pays tribute to the modern day Valentine's Day.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, there were at least three early Christian saints by the name of St. Valentine. While one was a priest in Rome, another was a bishop of Terni. Nothing is known about the third St. Valentine except that he met his end in Africa. Surprisingly, all three of them were martyred on February 14.
It is clear that Pope Gelasius intended to honor the first of these three men mentioned above. Most researchers believe that Valentine was a priest who lived around 270 AD in Rome and attracted the disfavor of Roman emperor Claudius II who ruled during this period.
The history of Valentine has two different versions - the Protestant and the Catholic. Both versions agree on Valentine's Day is a bishop who held secret marriage ceremonies of soldiers against Claudius II who had prohibited marriage for young men and was executed by the latter . During the period of Valentine, the golden age of the Roman empire had almost come to an end. Lack of quality administrators led to frequent civil war. Education has decreased, increased taxes and trade had a very bad time. The Roman Empire the crisis from all sides, from the Gauls, Slavs, Huns, Turks and Mongolians from Northern Europe and Asia. The empire had grown too large to be protected from external aggression and internal chaos with existing forces. Of course, men are increasingly able to be recruited as soldiers and officers to protect the nation from takeover. When Claude became the emperor, he felt that married men were more emotionally attached to their families, and thus, will not make good soldiers. He believed that marriage made the men weak. So he issued an edict forbidding marriage to assure quality soldiers.
The ban on marriage was a great shock for the Romans. But they dared not voice their protest against the mighty emperor. Goodness bishop Valentine also realized the injustice of the decree. He saw the trauma of young lovers who gave up all hope of being united in marriage. He planned to counter the monarch's orders in secrecy. Whenever lovers thought of marrying, they went to Valentine who met them afterwards in a secret place, and joined them in the sacrament of marriage. And thus he secretly performed many marriages for young lovers. But things can not stay hidden for long. It was only a matter of time before Claude was aware of this "friend of lovers," and had him arrested.
Awaiting his sentence in prison, Valentine was approached by his jailor, Asterius. It was said that Valentine had capacity saints and one of them gave him the power to heal people. Asterius had a blind daughter and knowing of the miraculous powers of Valentine he requested the latter to restore the sight of his blind daughter. Legend has it that Valentine Catholic is through the vehicle of his strong faith, a phenomenon refuted by the Protestant version which agrees otherwise with the Catholic faith. Whatever the reality, it seems that Valentine's somehow managed to help the blind girl Asterius. "
When Claudius II met Valentine, he was said to have been impressed by the dignity and conviction of the latter. However, Valentine refused to agree with the emperor regarding the ban on marriage. It is also said that the emperor tried to convert Valentine to the Roman gods, but was unsuccessful in his efforts. Valentine refused to recognize Roman Gods and even attempted to convert the emperor, knowing the consequences fully. This angered Claudius II who gave the order of execution of Valentine.
Meanwhile, a deep friendship had been formed between Valentine and Asterius his daughter. " It caused great pain to the girl to learn the impending death of his friend. It is said that just before his execution, Valentine asked for a pen and paper from his jailor, and signed a farewell message to her "From Your Valentine," a phrase that lived ever. According to another legend, Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his jailer during his imprisonment. However, this legend is not given much importance by historians. The most plausible story surrounding St. Valentine is one not centered on Eros (passionate love) but on agape (Christian love): he was martyred for refusing to renounce his religion. Valentine is believed to have been executed 14 February 270 AD.
And 14th February became a day for all lovers and Valentine became the patron saint. It began to be annually observed by young Romans who offered handwritten greetings of affection, known as Valentines, on this day the women they admire. With the advent of Christianity, the day came to be known as Valentine's Day.
But it was not until the 14th century that Valentine's Day became definitively associated with love. UCLA researcher Henry Ansgar Kelly medieval author of "Chaucer and the Cult of Saint Valentine", credits Chaucer as the one who first linked St. Valentine's Day romance. In medieval France and England it was believed that birds mated on February 14. Therefore, Chaucer used the image of birds as the symbol of love poems dedicated to the day. In Chaucer's "The Parliament of Fowls," the royal engagement, the mating season of birds, and Valentine's Day are linked:
"Because it was the day of Valentine's Day, when every bird comes there to choose his mate."
In the Middle Ages, Valentine became as popular as to become one of the most popular saints in England and France. Despite attempts by the Christian church to sanctify the holiday, the association of Valentine's Day with romance and court continued through the Middle Ages. The festival has evolved over the centuries. By the 18th century, gifts and exchange handmade cards on Valentine's Day has become common in England. Homemade valentine cards lace, ribbons, and featuring cupids and hearts began to be created in this day and delivered to the man or woman one loved. This tradition eventually spread to the American colonies. It was not until the 1840s that Valentine's Day greeting cards began to be commercially produced in the United States the first American Valentine's Day greeting cards were created by Esther A. Mount Holyoke Howlanda, graduate and native of Worcester. Mass. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap". It was when Howland began Valentine's cards in a large scale that the tradition really took the United States.
Today, Valentine's Day is one of the major holidays in the United States and became a smashing success commercially. According to the Greeting Card Association, 25% of all cards sent each year are "valentine" s. The "valentines", as Valentine's Day cards are better known than are often designed with hearts to symbolize love. Valentine card spread Christianity, and is now celebrated throughout the world. One of the earliest valentines was sent in 1415 AD by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife during his imprisonment in the Tower of London. The card is now preserved in the British Museum.
There may be doubts regarding the actual identity of Valentine, but we know that he really existed because archaeologists have recently discovered a catacomb and an ancient Roman church dedicated to Saint Valentine.
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