The Origin Of St. Valentines Day "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." We have selected links from various sources that we find really informative regarding Valentines Day and compiled the information below. You'll find that some sites below differ in opinion. As with most ancient customs, finding authentic sources is not very easy. About St. Valentine
Excerpt from: http://www.techdirect.com/valentine/origin.html While it can't be proved historically, there were seven men named Valentine who were honored with feasts on February 14th. Of these men, two stories link incidents that could have given our present day meaning to St. Valentine's Day. One of these men named Valentine was a priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Valentine was revered by the young and old, rich and poor, with people of all walks of life attending his services. At this time Emperor Claudius was heavily recruiting men to serve as soldiers for his wars without much success. The men preferred not to leave their wives, families and sweethearts to fight in foreign lands. Claudius became angry and declared that no more marriages could be performed and all engagements were cancelled. Valentine thought this to be unfair and secretly married several couples. When Claudius found out, he threw Valentine in prison where he died. Friends of the priest retrieved his body and buried it in a churchyard in Rome. Another version had St. Valentine jailed for helping Christians. While Valentine was in prison he cured a jailer's daughter of blindness. Claudius became enraged and had Valentine clubbed and beheaded on February 14, 269 A.D. Yet another story claims that Valentine fell in love with the jailer's daughter and wrote her letters that were signed "From your Valentine." All of the seven Valentines eventually evolved into one. In 496 Pope Gelasius declared the day in honor of St. Valentine. The Date For Valentines Day
Excerpt from: http://got.net/~seasons/valentine.html The date February 14th comes down to us from the Roman fertility rites (Lupercalia), always conducted in mid-Feruary, and from the belief in medieval Europe that birds mated on February 14th. This really is where we got the date. The Feast of Lubercus Excerpt from: http://www.techdirect.com/valentine/origin.html The first interpretation has this celebration originating as a pagan tradition in the third century. During this time hordes of hungry wolves roamed outside of Rome where shepherds kept their flocks. The God Lupercus, was said to watch over the shepherds and their flocks and keep them from the wolves. Every February the Romans celebrated a feast called Lupercalia to honor Lupercus so that no harm would come to the shepherds and their flocks. Also during Lupercalia, but in honor of the goddess Juno Februata, the names of young women were put into a box and names were drawn by lot. The boys and girls who were matched would be considered partners for the year, which began in March. This celebration continued long after wolves were a problem to Rome. Excerpt from: http://nh.essortment.com/valentinesday_rmhv.htm In Ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honor Juno, Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Feast of Lupercalia started the next day. During these times boys and girls were segregated. However, the young people had a custom that began on the eve of the Festival of Lupercalia. The girl’s names were written on pieces of paper and inserted into jars. Each boy then drew a girl’s name from the jar and they were partners throughout the Festival. After being paired, the children would often continue to see each other throughout the year and on occasion even fell in love and got married. Cupid
Excerpt from: http://got.net/~seasons/valentine.html Cupid was the pagan sex and fertility god of Rome; his counterpart in the Greek pantheon was Eros, the god of lust. That's right . . .I said "Eros." Cupid, this plump little winged cherub, fired supernatural arrows of passion into people's hearts, producing uncontrollable lust and desire. This whole concept has come down to us directly from Roman and Greek paganism, so Cupid came in the package, simply the Roman version of the god of lust the Greeks called "Eros." It is interesting that his name is merely the personification of the Latin word (cupido) for desire. It may also interest you to know that the English work for inordinate desire, selfish lust or greed is "cupidity." Same origin. Check it out and think on it. Sending Valentine Cards
Excerpt from: http://got.net/~seasons/valentine.html The exact origin of this custom is uncertain, but it arose in the late Middle Ages with the sending of love notes and related proposals on February 14th, the date being chosen because of the belief that birds mated on that day. The sending of Valentine cards as we know them arose as a popular custom in this country about 100 years ago with the establishment of generalized mail service.
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