By SHERI STAFFORD
Contributing Writer
On February 14, cards, chocolates, flowers, and other gifts will be exchanged as an expression of love, but there is more to the story than just hearts and candy. The tradition of celebrating Valentine’s Day has roots that date as far back as the third and fourth century AD, and through the course of time, the holiday has become synonymous with love.
The story of how Saint Valentine earned his title is unclear. Although there is more than one St. Valentine noted in history, they have something in common; they were martyrs.
Perhaps the most popular story of St. Valentine occurred when Roman Emperor Claudius outlawed marriage because he felt a wife and family would be a distraction to soldiers. Valentine, a priest, would marry loving couples in secret. Another version of the story suggests Valentine sent a note to a young lady the night before his beheading and signed it “From your Valentine.”
Valentine’s Day is thought to have ties to the pagan festival of Lupercalia, which took place in February. Lupercalia was dedicated to the Roman god of fertility, Lupercus. According to the legend, males would pick a female name to be partnered with.
In an attempt to steer people away from paganism, in 496 AD Pope Gelasius dedicated February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day. He is said to have changed the drawing to pick saint names and then model the saint’s life chosen.
Although St. Valentine’s Day is not officially recognized by the Catholic Church today, many parishes still observe the day.
St. Valentine is not only the patron saint of love, but he is also the patron saint of epileptics and beekeepers.
How has Valentine’s Day grown to what it is today? In the 1300’s author and poet Geoffrey Chaucer, is said to have made the first correlation between love and St. Valentine’s Day in his poem, Parliament of Fowls. The verse translated states, “For this was on St. Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.” Some birds can begin nesting and choose their mate in as early as February. In the early 1400’s, Charles, Duke of Orleans, wrote a “valentine” to his wife after being captured during the Battle of Agincourt. Today, with help from the social expression industry, greeting cards often take the place of handwritten poems and love letters.
How did Cupid get involved with Valentine’s Day? Cupid’s story comes from Roman mythology. He fell in love with Psyche, a beautiful mortal. Their love story and Cupid’s arrows that cast love spells make him the perfect icon for Valentine’s Day.
Expressing your love on Valentine’s Day is an old tradition. The holiday may have been sparked by a martyr who sacrificed his life for the love of his faith and devotion to others has grown into an occasion that celebrates the love of one another. And, “Where there is love there is life,” Mahatma Gandhi.