Odds And Ends

Lovers have a day on our calendar to prove or reaffirm their love through gifts, poems and dedications, but why does the February 14? Want to know the legend of St. Valentine and where it comes from this event?

There are various theories that grant to date the origin of the Day of Love. In the Nordic countries is during this time when paired and paired birds, so this period is seen as a symbol of love and creation.

Some believe it is a celebration of paganism Christianised, as in ancient Rome was made to worship the god of love, Eros was the Greek name and whom the Romans called Cupid. This celebration is called the favor of God through gifts or offerings to achieve and find the perfect lover.

Prison Valentine
Also, many centuries ago, it was traditional in England the “feast of Valentinus,” where men and women elected to form a couple. Many of these couples became husband and wife and get happy couple are expected to consolidate and Valentine’s Day.

Other sources focus the origin of the story of Valentine in Rome from the third century, a period in which Christianity was persecuted. In this period is also prohibited marriage between the soldiers as they were believed to be more single men surrendered on the battlefield that married men because they were emotionally attached to their families.

It is in these circumstances when there is the figure of St. Valentine, a Christian priest who decides to such injustice to couples married under the Christian ritual behind the eyes Romans.

Valentin acquired to protect and promote marriage secret lovers prestige throughout the city and is called by the Emperor Claudius II to meet you. The priest takes one visit to the Christian religion propaganda and convince the emperor to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Although at first Claudius II was attracted by that religion Romans persecuted them, the soldiers and the Governor of Rome and forced him to cancel an organized campaign against Valentin. The Roman emperor changed his mind and ordered the governor of Rome to prosecute a priest.

The mission to condemn the priest had to carry out the lieutenant, asterius. This, when he was in front of the priest, made fun of Christianity and wanted to test Valentin. Asked whether it would be able to restore sight to one of his daughters who was blind from birth. The priest accepted and acted on behalf of Mr miracle. The lieutenant and his entire family converted to Christianity but could not rid of Valentine’s martyrdom. Valentine was executed a February 14.

While locked up, his jailer asked him to give lessons to his daughter Julia, based on lessons and hours together, Valentine fell in love with the girl. On the eve of his execution, he sent a farewell note to the girl in which he signed with the words “from your Valentine”, hence the origin of love letters and poems that are sent fans at present and the expression Farewell “From Your Valentine”, known throughout the world in thousands of postcards attached Valentine.

Valentine’s body
The history of Valentine had been there were it not for two centuries later, the Catholic Church regained it. By then it was a tradition among adolescents curious practice derived from the pagan festival rites in honor of the god Lupercus, the god of fertility to be held on February 15. It was a lottery in which each child chose the name of a young man who would become his companion for a fun year. The Holy See wanted to stop this pagan celebration and Valentine canonized as patron saint of lovers.

Valentine’s body is currently kept in the Basilica of the same name which is located in the Italian city of Terni. Every February 14 is celebrated in this temple an act of commitment by different couples who want to join in marriage the following year.

In any event, Valentine has become the patron of all lovers and all those who want a partner. Traders have echoed this holiday and have become a perfect day to increase sales. Flowers, cards, love poems, dedications, chocolates and gifts of all kinds are made to this day loved to show their love and friendship.

Tags: Ancient Rome, Christianity, Featured, Holy See, Jesus, Roman Catholic Church, Roman Emperor, Saint Valentine, Valentine's Day, Valentines Day

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 1st, 2009 at 9:42 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.