Valentine's Day is held on the 14th of February and is also known as Saint Valentine's Day or the feast of Saint Valentine. It is celebrated in many countries often as Anglican communion in the lutheran church. It is a celebration of love and affection.
Typically on Valentine's Day people will go on dates, send cards and gifts and attend church services. Often on Valentine’s Day people may send anonymous messages to people and sign the card ‘your Valentine,’ they may even get them a small gift such as chocolates or love hearts.
A popular belief is that Saint Valentine was a priest from Rome in the 3rd century AD. the oldest known Valentine's Day message in english was written in 1411, there is a story behind this letter.
The Emperor Claudius II banned marriage because he thought married men were bad soldiers. Saint Valentine thought this was unfair and he began arranging marriages in secret.
Claudius found out and Valentine was thrown into jail and sentenced to death. While he was in jail he fell in love with a jailers daughter. When he was taken to be killed on the 14th February, he sent her a letter and signed it ‘love from your Valentine.’
So how did this day become Valentine's Day? The first Valentine's Day was in the year 496, this day is a very old tradition and it is believed to have originated from a roman festival.
The roman festival was called Lupercalia and it was held in the middle of February and signalled the start or springtime. As part of this celebration boys drew girls names from a box and they would be bonfires and girlfriend for the day. Sometimes they would end up getting married.
The church eventually turned the festival into a christian celebration and decided to use the celebration to remember Saint Valentine as well. This day became known as Valentine's Day.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
