Every February 14, around the world, candy, cards, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St Valentine.
The history of Valentine’s Day and the story of its patron saint–is shrouded in mystery.
February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and St Valentine’s Day, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.
It is is recognised as a significant cultural and commercial celebration in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country
The Catholic Church recognises at least three different saints; Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome.
When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men.
When he realised the injustice of the decree, Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered for his killing.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine sent the first 'valentine' greeting to himself after he fell in love with a young girl–possibly his jailor’s daughter–who visited him during his confinement.
Before his death, it is believed that he wrote her a letter, signed: “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still used today.
While some believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial, which probably occurred around A.D 270, others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February in an effort to “Christianise” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia.
Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders, Romulus and Remus.
Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine’s did not begin to appear until after 1400.
The oldest known Valentine still in existence to-date was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife, while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.
‘’Approximately 150 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine's Day the second most popular card-sending holiday after Christmas.’’
Source: history.com