Valentines Day 2012 - Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is a holiday observed on February 14 honoring one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine.
Valentine's Day Facts
Each year on February 14th, people around the world give each other flowers, cookies, chocolates, balloons and love letters in the name of St. Valentine.
There are a few different legends out there that explain the origins of Valentine's Day, and no one knows for sure which one is true. However, it is clear that the customs practiced on Valentine's Day have little to do with St. Valentine and more to do with the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia.
Historical Facts of Valentines Day
- Valentine's Day originates from a celebration on February 14th in fifth-century Rome that paid tribute to a Catholic Bishop named St. Valentine. The holiday originally had nothing to do with lovers. Charles, the Duke of Orleans, France, sent the first "valentine" to his wife while he was imprisoned in London in 1415.
Significance
- In ancient Rome, February was considered the beginning of spring. The ancient Romans celebrated a fertility festival called Lupercalia on February 15th. Today's, Valentine's Day customs hail from the Lupercalia festival, during which boys and girls drew names from a box and exchanged gifts.
Theories/Speculation
- Other traditions associated with Valentine's Day are believed to hail from the Middle Ages in England and France. A common belief at the time was that on February 14th birds began to mate.
Misconceptions
- Many people assume that there was only one St. Valentine, when there were in fact three. According to one legend, St. Valentine was a priest who was executed for performing marriages in secret for young couples. According to another legend, St. Valentine was killed by the Romans for helping Christian prisoners escape. Yet another legend tells that St. Valentine wrote a letter to his lover signed, "From Your Valentine," while he was in prison.
Valentines Day Celebration & Christianity
Reports had it that numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine.
The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae).
Valentine of Rome was a priest in Rome who was martyred about AD 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. His relics are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome, and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.
Valentine of Terni became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been martyred during the persecution under Emperor Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino).
The Catholic Encyclopedia also speaks of a third saint named Valentine who was mentioned in early martyrologies under date of February 14. He was martyred in Africa with a number of companions, but nothing more is known about him.
See Valentine 2012 Wallpapers
Kaitlin Johnstone, eHow Contributor (Valentines Day Facts), WikiPedia (What is Valentine) I Love God (Redifination)
Valentine's Day Facts
Each year on February 14th, people around the world give each other flowers, cookies, chocolates, balloons and love letters in the name of St. Valentine.
There are a few different legends out there that explain the origins of Valentine's Day, and no one knows for sure which one is true. However, it is clear that the customs practiced on Valentine's Day have little to do with St. Valentine and more to do with the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia.
Historical Facts of Valentines Day
- Valentine's Day originates from a celebration on February 14th in fifth-century Rome that paid tribute to a Catholic Bishop named St. Valentine. The holiday originally had nothing to do with lovers. Charles, the Duke of Orleans, France, sent the first "valentine" to his wife while he was imprisoned in London in 1415.
Significance
- In ancient Rome, February was considered the beginning of spring. The ancient Romans celebrated a fertility festival called Lupercalia on February 15th. Today's, Valentine's Day customs hail from the Lupercalia festival, during which boys and girls drew names from a box and exchanged gifts.
Theories/Speculation
- Other traditions associated with Valentine's Day are believed to hail from the Middle Ages in England and France. A common belief at the time was that on February 14th birds began to mate.
Misconceptions
- Many people assume that there was only one St. Valentine, when there were in fact three. According to one legend, St. Valentine was a priest who was executed for performing marriages in secret for young couples. According to another legend, St. Valentine was killed by the Romans for helping Christian prisoners escape. Yet another legend tells that St. Valentine wrote a letter to his lover signed, "From Your Valentine," while he was in prison.
Valentines Day Celebration & Christianity
Reports had it that numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine.
The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae).
Valentine of Rome was a priest in Rome who was martyred about AD 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. His relics are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome, and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.
Valentine of Terni became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been martyred during the persecution under Emperor Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino).
The Catholic Encyclopedia also speaks of a third saint named Valentine who was mentioned in early martyrologies under date of February 14. He was martyred in Africa with a number of companions, but nothing more is known about him.
See Valentine 2012 Wallpapers
Kaitlin Johnstone, eHow Contributor (Valentines Day Facts), WikiPedia (What is Valentine) I Love God (Redifination)
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