2008 Woodie Awards
Valentine's Day is historical mystery
Lucas DuRall
Issue date: 2/13/07 Section: Campus News
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Valentine's Day is a holiday that is celebrated across the country with gifts of flowers and candy between loved ones.
But do you know why we celebrate this holiday or where the idea of Valentine's Day came from?
This holiday is based on a patron saint named "St. Valentine." But who is this saint and how did he influence what we now celebrate as a romantic holiday? This is a historical mystery which carries different legends.
One legend says that Valentine was a priest in Rome during the third century. Emperor at the time, Claudius II, decided that men made better soldiers if they were single than if they had wives or women in their lives. He outlawed marriages in Rome for young men since they would be soldiers in his army. Valentine thought that this was an unjust law and did not agree with Claudius' new law. Valentine still performed marriages for young couples in secret knowing if he were caught there would be serious consequences. However his actions were discovered and Claudius ordered Valentine to be put to death.
In ancient Rome, Christians were persecuted for their beliefs. Another legend states that Valentine was executed for helping Christians escape from Roman prisons where they were beaten and tortured.
It is also believed that Valentine was behind the first greeting card. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl. The girl was said to be the daughter of the jailor which visited him often while he was in prison. Before his execution, he wrote a letter to his love. He signed it "From Your Valentine" which still is a common phrase used between loved ones today.
The whole month of February is known for love and romance. But why February, why not another month? It is said that we celebrate it this month because we are remembering the anniversary of Valentines death. Others say it is because of the ancient Christian church trying to Christianize an annual Roman festival called "Lupercalia" which fell on February 15. Lupercalia is a festival of fertility and romance that is still celebrated in Rome to this day.
None of these legends have been proved so therefore no one actually knows exactly how Valentine's Day came about. Maybe the culmination of all the legends and stories over centuries is what makes the myth so interesting. Either way, thank goodness for the patron saint that stood up for something that he believed in. Who knows, if it weren't for that, we might be doing something else on Feb.14.
But do you know why we celebrate this holiday or where the idea of Valentine's Day came from?
This holiday is based on a patron saint named "St. Valentine." But who is this saint and how did he influence what we now celebrate as a romantic holiday? This is a historical mystery which carries different legends.
One legend says that Valentine was a priest in Rome during the third century. Emperor at the time, Claudius II, decided that men made better soldiers if they were single than if they had wives or women in their lives. He outlawed marriages in Rome for young men since they would be soldiers in his army. Valentine thought that this was an unjust law and did not agree with Claudius' new law. Valentine still performed marriages for young couples in secret knowing if he were caught there would be serious consequences. However his actions were discovered and Claudius ordered Valentine to be put to death.
In ancient Rome, Christians were persecuted for their beliefs. Another legend states that Valentine was executed for helping Christians escape from Roman prisons where they were beaten and tortured.
It is also believed that Valentine was behind the first greeting card. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl. The girl was said to be the daughter of the jailor which visited him often while he was in prison. Before his execution, he wrote a letter to his love. He signed it "From Your Valentine" which still is a common phrase used between loved ones today.
The whole month of February is known for love and romance. But why February, why not another month? It is said that we celebrate it this month because we are remembering the anniversary of Valentines death. Others say it is because of the ancient Christian church trying to Christianize an annual Roman festival called "Lupercalia" which fell on February 15. Lupercalia is a festival of fertility and romance that is still celebrated in Rome to this day.
None of these legends have been proved so therefore no one actually knows exactly how Valentine's Day came about. Maybe the culmination of all the legends and stories over centuries is what makes the myth so interesting. Either way, thank goodness for the patron saint that stood up for something that he believed in. Who knows, if it weren't for that, we might be doing something else on Feb.14.
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