Valentine's Day — All You Need To Know About This Love Day

All the inclusive facts relating to Valentine's Day celebration

Valentine’s Day occurs every February 14. Across the world, candy, love wish messages, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and where did these traditions come from? Find out about the history of Valentine’s Day, from the ancient Roman ritual of Lupercalia that welcomed spring to the card-giving customs of Victorian England.

Valentine's Day is an annual festival celebrated in many countries around the world on February 14th, but how exactly did this love-up celebration come about?. For many other people, the only thing they know is that it's associated somehow with a kind of a mysterious Saint Valentine but there's much more you must know about this love day. Check out the lovely history associated with the most romantic day of the year. 

The truth behind the Valentine legend is murky, but he's appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and most importantly — romantic figure. The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different Saints named Valentine or Valentinius, all of whom were martyred. 

Some legends contends Saint Valentine was a Roman Priest who conducted marriage ceremories ( and other liturgical services) in the third century Rome under the emperor Claudius the second (Claudius II). Claudius II, however, believed that single men makes a better soldier than those with wivies and children. As a result of his ideology and theory, he outlined a law that forbid marriage of young soldiers.

READ MORE: Valentine's Day History, Origin and Other Facts

Saint Valentine sees injustices in this new law, He strongly disagree with the law. Rather than following the law, He defies Claudius and carries out marriage for young soldiers secretly. But in no time, Claudius found out what was going on and order Saint Valentine to be put to death. 

Other stories has it that, Valentine was a Christian under an oppressive emperor Claudius II, who ordered that all Romans must worship the twelve gods. But Valentine who was dedicated to God defies the emperor's order and was put in prison.

During Saint Valentine days in jail, the jailer ordered that his daughter, Julia might be brought to him for lessons. Julia was a pretty young lady blind from birth. Saint Valentine  describes the world of nature to her, taught her arithmetic and told her about God. It happens that as they both prayed together, a bright light stun the prison wall and Julia receive her sight. 

On eve of his death, he wrote a last note to Julia urging her to stay close to God. He signed it, "From Your Valentine" — a note that is still use today. His  death was carried out the next day, February, 14, 270 A.D, near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory. It's said that Julia planted a pink blossomed almond tree near his grave. 

It's not know for certain why we celebrate Valentine Day in February, eventually, there are some interesting suggestion. The most popular is that this was actually the month Saint Valentine was martyred, although some legends believes it was been celebrated in February in an attempt to overshadow the Lupercalia. 

The Lupercalia is a pegan celebration for fertility dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture as well as Roman founders — Remus and Romulus. The celebration includes the members of luperci, an order of priests gathered together at a sacred cave. The priest would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. This rite was made to make the women of the city more fertile the year after. But since the Christians opposes this practice, it is very much possible that they decided to celebrate Valentine's Day in this month. 

Two centuries after Saint Valentine death, Pope Gelasius became the head of Catholic Church and he declared February 14th should be celebrated in honor of Saint Valentine. But however, it wasn't really associated with love until later on. The people of the Middle Ages, believes February 14th saw the start of mating season for birds and when this new theory was added to the legend of Saint Valentine, it started to make more sense that this day should be one on which to celebrate lovers.