Saint Valentine

Valentine’s Day has been celebrated for many years now. Those who have someone this holiday can be very romantic, but those who are single refer to the day as “the black day”. On the other hand even the people that do have that special someone still believe that the holiday is a made up one. A lot of both genders are hopeless romantics and love Valentine’s Day; so that leave the small portion of both sides that don’t believe in the romance behind the day.




Throughout history there have many records of multiple St. Valentine’s, but there was one specific one in Rome that was believed to be the main reason for this holiday. St Valentine existed during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. The Emperor didn’t condone engagements and marriages, he lead a very bloody campaign during his time. Claudius forbids men to get engaged or married so that they would have no reason not to fight for him. He found that men that were not tied to anything at home and were more willing to go to war and die. He also believed that the reasoning behind men and women wanting to get married was because of their religion, their belief in Christianity.
You are probably wondering where St. Valentine fits into all of this. Well during the emperors rein St. Valentine was living in hiding and secretly wedding couples. Eventually St. Valentine was caught and imprisoned for what he was doing. Claudius tried to convert St. Valentine to Roman Paganism and when he refused he was executed on February 14, 269 AD. Before he was executed it was said that he performed a miracle with the jailer’s daughter, of whom he befriended while being imprisoned, by curing her of being blind. Shortly before he was killed it is said he left her a note signed “from your valentine”.
From this Valentine’s Day has really evolved over the years, beginning with young people drawing names and wearing them on their sleeves for their valentine to find them. This is where the saying “wearing your heart on your sleeve” comes from. Of course today that phrase means showing your feelings more than anything.
In Wales they began giving wooden spoons with hearts carved into them and keys and locks as gifts to their loved ones. They used this as saying “you unlock my heart”, today it holds a meaning of “you hold the key to my heart”.
By the 19th century paper valentines became popular. The fancy ones included lace and ribbons and by the middle of the 19th century they had lace made from paper. By the 20th century a typical valentine gift included roses and chocolates in a read heart shaped box. It wasn’t until the 1980’s when diamonds were incorporated in with the roses and chocolates.
Even though people don’t always enjoy the “day of love” it is there for those who are hopeless romantics.