Every year on February 14th, people all over the world are buying flowers, eating chocolates, and spreading love around like it’s a disease. We all celebrate Valentine’s Day (whether we like it or not), but nobody really knows exactly why, or how the holiday even began. Despite rumors of Valentine’s Day being just a Hallmark holiday in which companies just try to make as much money as they can; there is actually some history to this day. The history, however, is not 100% known.
One of the legends states that Valentine was a priest who lived during third century Rome. Claudius II, the Emperor at that time, was said to believe that single men made for better soldiers, so he banned all marriages so that he could build a stronger army. Valentine, a strong believer in love, supposedly married couples in secret because he disagreed with the banning of marriage. Emperor Claudius found out and ordered Valentine to death, but the holiday is celebrated in his honor of love.
Another legend says that Valentine was a man in jail that fell in love with his jailor’s daughter. He was sentenced to death, but before he was killed he sent her a card signed “Your Valentine”. Now, people send out valentines and call their loved one their “Valentine” in honor of St. Valentine’s last words.
These are just two of the many different stories out there about where Valentine’s Day began, who St. Valentine really is, and why the holiday continues to be celebrated. Believe whatever tale you will, but one thing is for certain- Valentine’s Day is here to stay.
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