Sunday Thoughts About Valentine's Day

Foundation of image: Sunday by J Lloa, Pixabay

Valentine’s Day—just a few days away—inspired today’s post.

Cynics say Valentine’s Day was a holiday created by the greeting card industry, but celebrating this day has been a part of our culture for a long time.

Some think this day is a tribute to the martyred Saint Valentine, but there’s some controversy about that.

One version of the Saint Valentine story is that in the 3rd century, a priest was put to death on February 14 by Emperor Claudius II. He’d been convicted of marrying couples after the emperor had banned  marriage because he thought it distracted young soldiers.

The other version of the Saint Valentine story is that he was imprisoned and put to death in Rome because he tried to help Christians escape prison. 

Supposedly, he sent a message he wrote while in prison and signed it, “From your Valentine,” which means it was the first valentine. I wonder if the Vatican can provide the real story.

OTHER ORIGIN STORY

The festival honored Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as Romulus and Remus who founded Rome. Those early Romans celebrated the festival by sacrificing animals.

Hmm. Seems some kind of sacrifice was always a hallmark of a festival in ancient times. 

Apparently, they also went around hitting women with animal hides because they thought it encouraged fertility. Some psycho guy must have come up with that.

Just give me a sweet Valentine card please! 

VALENTINE BECOMES OFFICIAL

At the end of the 5th century, Roman Pope Gelasius officially declared February 14 as “St. Valentine’s Day.

Fast forward to the Middle Ages when the holiday became linked to love and romance. Why then? Because it was a common belief in France and England that birds started mating on February 14.

The first known official record of a valentine being sent was a poem written by a French duke  in 1415 to his wife in which he called her, “My very gentle Valentine.”

Handwritten messages of love continued through the centuries until mass-production of Valentine cards began in the 1840s which were sold by Esther Howland.

In 1861, Richard Cadbury created the heart-shaped box for Valentine’s Day candy.

VALENTINE’S TODAY

More than 250 million roses are grown for this holiday, more than 145 million cards are exchanged, and candy is the most common gift. Jewelry and a special evening out also are common to celebrate the day.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Whether you’re a cynic or a romantic, take the opportunity on Valentine’s Day to show those you love—spouse, sibling, parents, grandparents, or friends—how much they mean to you.

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Joan Reeves aka SlingWords: The Word Slinging Adventures of Joan Reeves