How Did Valentine's Day Get Started?

Why do all of us give candy, flowers, and gifts on February 14 each year? Also, why is this date so very popular for asking that special person to marry you. Who is St. Valentine?



There are actually two legends of how Valentine's Day began and both of them started in ancient Rome. The first legend involved "Claudius the Cruel," a name given to Emperior Claudius II. He was known for many bloody and horrific military campaigns. They were so bad that many men refused to sign up for the military saying that they couldn't leave their loved ones behind, because to be a part of Claudius' military meant certain death. Claudius soon made a law that there could be no engagements and he cancelled all marriages.



There was a priest at this time named St. Valentine, who, along with his friend, secretly continued to perform marriage ceremonies. When Claudius found out about this, he sentenced St. Valentine to be clubbed to death and beheaded.



While St. Valentine was in prison awaiting execution, he fell in love with a young girl, who may have been the prison guard's daughter. On St. Valentine's execution date of February 14, he wrote a letter to his love and signed it, "From your Valentine." Two hundred years later, a priest set aside February 14 as a date to honor St. Valentine.



The second legend was that February 14 was a date to honor Juno, the Queen of Roman Gods and Goddesses. She was, also, the goddess of marriage and love. On February 15 a feast called Lupercalia began.



In ancient Rome young boys and girls were strictly forbidden to see each other and had to stay separate. The only time that they could connect was through the Feast of Lupercalia. Every young girl's name was written on a slip of paper and placed into jars. The young boys were allowed to draw a name from the jars. The young boy and the girl he chose from the jar were allowed to partner each other during the festival. Sometimes the pairing would last over a year and many times the young couple would fall in love and marry.



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