Will You be My Valentine?

It's that time of the year again, a day when cupid strikes again to bring love to your near and dear ones. It's a time for friends, a time for families, and a time for lovers. Although many people want to write Valentine's day off as a commercial holiday, it has actually been celebrated for hundreds of years.

How did Valentine's day begin?

Legend has it that it started in the time of the Roman Empire. It was when the Emperor, Claudius II, was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. “Claudius the Cruel” as he was called, was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that Roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. So, he cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome!

The good Saint Valentine, who was a priest in Rome, in the year 269 A.D., together with his friend Saint Marius, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, he was sentenced to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off.

But while in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl, who may have been his jailor's daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death on the 14th day of February, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed...

"From your Valentine"

In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius decided to set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.

There are many theories, but this is perhaps the best known one!

xx

Some interesting bits and pieces:
♥In 496 AD, St Valentine's Day was declared a day of feasting by Pope Gelasius.
♥The first Valentine was thought to be sent by a captured French Knight in London, after the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, to his wife home in France.
♥Women during the 1700's hoping to dream of their perfect lover would remove the yolk from a hardboiled egg, fill it with salt and eat it all - shell included!
♥During the 19th Century the English would choose the first person they met on February 14th as their Valentine.
♥America was the first country to really establish flowers as gifts on Valentine's Day.
♥The name "Cupid" comes from the Latin word for desire. The Greeks call this god "Eros" (E-ross), the god of love.
♥The apple is sacred to "Venus", Roman goddess of love. It has long been associated with love divination.
♥In Italy there is an old tradition for single woman to awaken before sunrise to keep a look out for any man to pass their window. It was believed that they would marry this man or someone similar, within that year.
♥The old country name for the Daisy is 'measure of love' and it is still one of the most popular love tests. Pick off the white petals of the flower one by one whilst saying alternatively, "he loves me, he loves me not'. The last petal will reveal the truth.

xx

5 Ways to the Happiest Valentine’s Day Ever!

♥Send a heartfelt Valentine Card to someone who has really inspired you and tell them how much they mean to you.
♥Make a homemade Valentine Card and send it to your favorite relative you haven’t seen in a while.
♥Send flowers or candy to someone who doesn’t have a sweetheart, and sign it anonymous.
♥Make a Valentine’s Basket and send it to a family that has gone through a difficult time and sign it, From Your Guardian Angel.
♥Take your little niece, nephew, or cousin out for ice cream.

Giving is the fastest way to feel good about yourself. It doesn’t have to be expensive, even a single hand picked flower will do. Anything coming from the heart will surely be felt and appreciated. It’s two gifts in one. One is for the recipient and even a bigger gift for you.

Happy Valentines day! :)