There is magic in the story as to how holidays and customs get established. Often times the true story is not known. Saint Valentine’s Day, commonly shortened to Valentine’s Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14th celebrating love and affection between companions. The day is named after one or more martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 500 AD.
The Early Medieval document, Legenda Aurea, states the St. Valentine of Rome, a priest in the church there, was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed. On the night before his execution Valentine healed the blind daughter of a particularly kind jailer. At the same time he left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine.”
The first recorded association of Valentine’s Day with romantic love is in Parliament of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer. (modern translation: “For this was Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird comes there to choose his mate.”) Chaucer wrote the poem to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II to Anne of Bohemia. Shakespeare wrote of St. Valentine’s Day in Hamlet Act IV in 1600-01. John Donne used the legend of the marriage of the birds as the starting pint of his piece celebrating the marriage of Elizabeth, daughter of James I or England and Frederick V, Elector Palatine. In 1797, a British publisher published The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, containing many suggested sentimental verses for young lovers to pen to their love. Factory produced paper Valentines became popular in the early 19th century. An industry was born. In the United States the first commercial Valentines were produced and sold in 1847 by Esther Howland of Worchester, MA. A custom was established. It was estimated that about 15 million Valentine’s were sent in the United States in 2010.
The holiday began with St. Valentine, who facing death, wanted to extend to the blind jailor’s daughter a gift of love and wellbeing.
Above all else, I want the same for the ones I love — that they know love and possess wellness. I am sure you do too. So among the card giving, the roses and the bon-bons, I suggest that you mutually give a gift that when used can produce a healthier body, perhaps a longer life and increased years to share with the one you love. Vow to each other that you love is so deep that you want them to join you in health eating and a regular exercise program.
The Early Medieval document, Legenda Aurea, states the St. Valentine of Rome, a priest in the church there, was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed. On the night before his execution Valentine healed the blind daughter of a particularly kind jailer. At the same time he left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine.”
The first recorded association of Valentine’s Day with romantic love is in Parliament of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer. (modern translation: “For this was Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird comes there to choose his mate.”) Chaucer wrote the poem to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II to Anne of Bohemia. Shakespeare wrote of St. Valentine’s Day in Hamlet Act IV in 1600-01. John Donne used the legend of the marriage of the birds as the starting pint of his piece celebrating the marriage of Elizabeth, daughter of James I or England and Frederick V, Elector Palatine. In 1797, a British publisher published The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, containing many suggested sentimental verses for young lovers to pen to their love. Factory produced paper Valentines became popular in the early 19th century. An industry was born. In the United States the first commercial Valentines were produced and sold in 1847 by Esther Howland of Worchester, MA. A custom was established. It was estimated that about 15 million Valentine’s were sent in the United States in 2010.
The holiday began with St. Valentine, who facing death, wanted to extend to the blind jailor’s daughter a gift of love and wellbeing.
Above all else, I want the same for the ones I love — that they know love and possess wellness. I am sure you do too. So among the card giving, the roses and the bon-bons, I suggest that you mutually give a gift that when used can produce a healthier body, perhaps a longer life and increased years to share with the one you love. Vow to each other that you love is so deep that you want them to join you in health eating and a regular exercise program.
Article by Will Keeney,
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