VALENTINE´S DAY

DATE: February 14th

ORIGINS
Nobody knows exactly who St. Valentine was. As a matter of fact, church records show at least two people named St. Valentine. Both of these men were thrown in jail. One went to jail almost 1,700 years ago for performing marriages against the wishes of the Roman Emperor. The other Valentine was thrown in jail for helping some Christians. While in jail, he fell in love with the jailer's blind daughter. His love for her and his great faith managed to miraculously heal her from her blindness. Before he was taken to his death (it is said that he was beheaded on February 14, 269 A.D.), he signed a farewell message to her, "From your Valentine." The phrase has been used on his day ever since.

It was in the year 496 that Pope Celasius set February 14 as the date to honor St. Valentine. The holiday fell on the day before the Roman Lupercalia Festival, a time to honor the god who protected crops and animals from wolves. The Lupercalia Festival was celebrated on February 15. Over the years, Valentine's Day and the Lupercalia Festival were joined into one holiday and became a time to celebrate love and affection.

CELEBRATION IN THE U.S.

Shortly before February 14, card shops, bookstores, department stores, and drugstores display a wide assortment of greeting cards called valentines . As a matter of fact, Valentine's Day is second only to Christmas in the number of cards sent through the U.S. mail. There are special valentines with messages directed to specific family members.

Cupid, another symbol of the holiday, became associated with it because he was the son of Venus, the Roman god of love and beauty. Cupid often appears on Valentine cards.

For sweethearts and friends, there are valentines in every imaginable style - sentimental, restrained, sophisticated, humorous, or insulting. Adults usually purchase valentines to accompany a more elaborate gift, such as candies, flowers, or perfume. School children enjoy buying or making valentines for their friends and teachers.