by Crystal Reign Brock

Created on: December 10, 2009

Valentine's Day is filled with images of love and self expressions.  The most popular form of expressing love or fondness is the giving of Valentine cards.  With the en-grained image of Cupid and gift giving one would think that this was always the intention of celebrating February 14.  It is hard to believe that a day many associate with acts of love was originally for the celebration of two Christian martyrs, Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni.  Many believe them to be the same person.  Valentine or as we know it as Valentine's Day had no romantic meaning at all.  Both men were persecuted for being Christians.

Valentine of Terni was Bishop in Terni, Italy around 197 AD.  He was killed at night to avoid riots during the persecution of Emperor Aurelian.  He was highly loved and known for being an evangelist, miracle worker, and healer.  Valentine of Terni was buried on February 14 along the Via Flaminia, a road leading from Rome to Ariminum.  There is little known about Valentine of Terni and nothing is mentioned about any acts of love performed or demonstrated by the Bishop.

Valentine of Rome was a Priest circa 269 AD.  Persecuted by Roman Emperor Claudius II for being a Christian.  The Emperor offered to spare his life if he converted to Roman paganism.  Refusing Valentine tried to convert Claudius to Christianity.  Before he was executed Valentine of Rome healed from blindness and became friends with his captures daughter.  It is said that he wrote the first Valentine himself, addressed to her, "From your Valentine".  He is also buried along the Via Flaminia.

Even with the giving of the letter Valentine of Rome is not associated with the romantic aspect of Valentine's Day.  The celebrating of these two martyrs on February 14 was created by Pope Gelasius I in 496. The day is known as the feast day of St. Valentine.  Many believed that Gelasius I purpose for the feast day of St. Valentine was to do away with the pagan holiday Lupercalia, a celebration of fertility.

It wasn't until the time of Geoffrey Chaucer that Valentine's Day received it's romantic meaning.  Chaucer wrote Parlement of Foules (The Parliament of Birds) to celebrate the anniversary engagement of Richard II to Anne of Bohemia.  There is a line that refers to Volantynys day. Many assumed that he was referring to February 14, Valentine's Day.  The theme of the poem deals with choosing a mate and the idea of Valentine's Day being for lovers was born.

The feast day of St. Valentine is still celebrated by traditional Catholics, even though it was removed from the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints.  Some argue that Valentine's Day is an overly commercialized holiday strictly established to sell candy and cards.  Others truly consider it to be a day of love strictly meant to be celebrated with someone special.  How ever you feel one thing is for sure Valentine's Day has a rich history that is filled with mystery.  What better day to celebrate the magic of love.

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