Over the centuries the meaning and the reason we celebrate Valentine’s Day has changed tremendously. In modern times we believe this holiday to represent the love and affection between a man and woman. We express this by way of cards, chocolate, jewelry and so on. Furthermore the holiday has become very commercialized and has just become another way for companies to make a quick buck. But there is more to Valentine’s Day then just love and affection and making a quick buck.
Starting from the beginning, Valentines Day was originally a Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on February 15. This was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. Which Roman legend states that Romulus and Remus founded the city of Rome in 753 B.C. The festivities consisted of a sacrifice of animals such as a Goat for fertility and a dog for purification. According to legend young women in the city would put their names in a big jug and the bachelors of the city would each draw names. The names they drew became the one they would pair up with, for the year. These matches often ended in marriage. This Festival went on for 800 years before it was outlawed and deemed un-christian. It was later renamed and dedicated in honor of Saint Valentine, a Roman martyr who lived in the 3rd century.
St. Valentine is a little bit of a mystery? There is no evidence that this noble man had any relations to Valentines Day. All there seems to be is myths and legends of Valentines Day. But just like any legend there is usually some truth to it. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, There were at least three Christian saints by the name Valentine or Valentinus. While one was a priest in Rome, another was a bishop in Terni. Nothing is known about the third except that he met his demise in Africa. One thing I thought was interesting was all three were believe to be martyred on February 14th.
In the 3rd century the Roman Empire was facing some bad times, not only internally within their own government but problems with other countries as well. Naturally, the need for more capable men were required to be recruited as soldiers and officers to protect the nation from takeover. During this time Claudius II became the Emperor, He thought that married men make for weak soldiers. He felt that the emotional attachment of their families would offer too much of a distraction to the soldier. Therefore single men made better soldiers. So he issued a decree forbidding marriage to assure quality soldiers.
Banning the right to marry was a surprise to the Romans, but in those days you did not go against the mighty emperor and live to tell the story. The kind Bishop Valentine was appalled by this decree. He saw the sadness and discouragement of the young lovers. This weighted heavy on his heart. He believed in Christian marriage between one man and one woman and he worked diligently to maintain God’s philosophy. Because of this injustice he went against the decreed law. |
