Valentines Day uncovered

Valentines Day: Uncovered

By: Cassie Whitt

As we know, February is the month of love where all across the world we spoil our loved one with flowers, cards, and candy, but do we honestly know the history behind February 14 or why it’s known as St. Valentines Day? Well, Valentines Day was originally celebrated by Christians and Ancient Roman traditions, where they honor a saint by the name of Valentine or Valentinus a very mysterious and romantic character.

St. Valentine was said to be a priest who served during the third century in Rome, when the Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers then man with wives and children. The emperor made decision to outlaw young marriage for his potential soldiers that he could use during the war; Valentine, who greatly disagreed with the emperor’s decision, went against Claudius wishes and continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers secretly. When Emperor Claudius found out about Valentines secret marriage ceremonies for his young potential soldiers; Claudius sentenced Valentine to death.

During his time in prison, he was brutally beaten and tortured, because he tried to help Christians escape their harsh punishments. This mysterious man wasn’t in jail because he really did anything wrong, but because he believed it wasn’t fair to take the freedom of love away form a person that my never get to the chance to experience it due to dying from war. He very well kept to himself and took every brutal punishment they gave him and never uttered a word to anybody. While sitting there living out his lonely days he noticed a radiant, beautiful girl coming and going from the prison. He wondered who this beautiful creature happened to be and why of all places she was in this place. He wondered if he would ever get the chance to give a simple hello.

Later he over heard the mysterious lovely girl that he had his eye on for quite some time talking to a man, but not just any man it was Valentines jailor. He wondered, are they lovers? Are they friends? Then he heard the words “but father” spilled out of her mouth and he said “no excuses.” It was a shock to him that someone so beautiful could come from someone so hateful. He still couldn’t believe she was the daughter of his own jailor. She walked past his cell on her way out; it was love at first sight, but she new that because of his situation at hand he was awaiting his death penalty. She came to visit him during his confinement at any chance she could. The more they talked and spent time together, the more they fell madly in love with each other. Well months passed and their secret love grew stronger, but his day finally came. Valentine sat down a wrote a letter to his lover; telling her of his love and that he would wait for her forever. She looked down at the bottom and there it was the famous phrase we still use today “Your Valentine.”

Nobody really knows why we still celebrate Valentines Day or give flowers and candy, after all St. Valentine him self only left a single letter declaring his love . We will most likely continue to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day for many years to come in honor of St. Valentine’s death and his love and determination to make sure that every body got a chance to love and be loved before their day comes to leave this earth. So make every Valentines Day a special one with the ones you love.