Saint Valentine's Day

The 14^th of February is a day when couples around the world celebrate their love by giving gifts to each other. It wasn't until Chaucer associated the day with romance that the day became closer to what it is now.

Pope Gelasius I established the day in 496 AD as a memorial to one or more Christian martyrs named Valentine. Why more than one? A number of Christian martyrs were called Valentine, although they died in less than romantic circumstances. We celebrate on the 14^th of February one of these martyrs was buried on the Via Flaminia on that date.

The best known Valentine story is of a priest called Valentine who refused to follow a law given by the Roman Emperor Claudius II. Claudius had allegedly ordered that no marriages could be performed and that all the young men should remain single, his belief was that unmarried men made better soldiers. Valentine however secretly performed marriage ceremonies for the young men. When he was discovered he was thrown in jail. Valentine wrote the first 'valentine' to a young girl who is reported to be the jailer's daughter. The note was signed 'from your valentine'.

The sending of Valentines first became fashionable in 1847 and now there are more than a billion valentines sent each year! The commercialism now surrounding Valentine's Day is almost suffocating and many people reject the celebration for this very reason. Others celebrate this "Día del Amor y la Amistad" a day celebrating love and friendship (rather than romantic love) and relish the opportunity to show they care.

Whether you choose to celebrate Valentine's Day or not it may be good to pause and remember that marriage is worth fighting for!