Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentines Day my lovelies. Valentine's Day is steeped in tradition even though it has become incredibly commercialized. It can be traced back to ancient Roman festival and has not been created by card companies as some people believe it to be. There are various legends associated with the festival along with the belief that birds began to mate from this day. It is said that in the Rome of ancient times people observed a holiday on February 14th to honor Juno - the Queen of Roman Gods and Goddesses. On the following day, February 15th began the fertility festival called 'Feast of Lupercalia'. The festival of Lupercalia was celebrated to honor the Gods Lupercus and Faunus - the Roman God of Agriculture besides the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. The pairing of young boys and girls did set the mood of the Valentine's Day Festival as we know today. But it was actually due to the efforts and daring of a priest St Valentine that the festival got its name and clearer meaning. The story goes that during the reign of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in several bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius found it tough to get soldiers and felt the reason was men did not join army because they did not wish to leave their wives and families. As a result Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. A romantic at heart priest of Rome Saint Valentine defied Claudius's unjustified order. Along with Saint Marius, St Valentine secretly married couples. When his defiance was discovered, Valentine was brutally beaten and put to death on February 14, about 270 AD. After his death Valentine was named a Saint. When Christianity spread through Rome, the priests moved Lupercalia from February 15 to February 14. Around 498 AD, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine's Day to honor the martyr Valentinus and to end the pagan celebration. Valentine's Day gradually grew in popularity due to the combined effect of all the above. To mark the day lovers began to exchange love letters called ‘Valentines' with their sweethearts. In the beginning it was traditional was to send handmade cards but this was changed in the beginning of 19th century and mass-produced greeting cards caught the fancy of the people. Now Valentine's day has come to be regarded as a day that celebrates love and not just romantic love. Today, Valentine's Day cards are given to teachers, parents, friends, siblings and sweethearts. *from the history of Valentines Day My husband is a quiet romantic. He doesn't shout it from the rooftops or shower me with gifts, but he does listen to me. He gives me flowers for no reason. He'll pick up books he had heard me mention that I like. He will surprise me with little home improvement materials for our house. So while I may not get the bouquet of roses or the 10 lb box of chocolates...I know that he loves me everyday not just this day

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