Saint Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day falls on February 14.

It is the traditional day on which lovers

express their love for each other; sending Valentine's cards and candy, often anonymously. The holiday is
named after two men, both Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic
love in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
The day was most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines".
Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the
19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The Greeting Card
Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the
day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that
women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.
In the United States, the marketing of Valentine's Day has tagged it as a "Hallmark holiday".

History
February 14 was traditionally dedicated to two ancient martyrs named Valentine. They are listed in early
martyrologies under the date of February 14, which is likely the date of their deaths. There is a third St.
Valentine from Africa who was also martyred on February 14, but he did not get a saint's day. Very little
historically accurate information exists on any of these Valentines. The Valentines honored on February 14
are:

Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae): a priest in Rome who suffered martyrdom about
AD 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. His relics are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome.
and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland. According to a biography of Saint
Valentine by Robert Sabuda, the priest was also a doctor who would treat patients even if they
could not pay him. It is said his miracle was curing a difficult case of blindness in a young girl.

Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae): He became bishop of Interamna

(modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been killed during the persecution of Emperor
Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome.
His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino).

Some sources say the Valentine linked to romance is Valentine of Rome, others say Valentine of Terni. The
Bollandists have concluded that the two were originally the same person.
The name Valentine comes from the Latin word valor, meaning worthy. The Catholic Church formally
recognized a total of eleven Valentine's days. Besides February 14, these include January 7, May 2, July 16,
August 31, September 2, October 25, November 1 and November 3, November 11, November 13, and
December 16. Valentin Faustino Berri Ochoa, whose saint's day is November 1, lived in the nineteenth
century. The Orthodox Church recognizes a somewhat different list of Valentine's days[. Although no
connection between St. Valentine and love is mentioned in any early account, there are several later legends
that make such a connection. See Medieval and modern times
The Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints, known officially as the Roman Martyrology, was revised in 1969 so
that all of the Valentine's days were officially dropped. The liturgical Feast of St. Valentine is now restricted
to the diocese of Rome. For the global Catholic Church, February 14 is the Feast of Ss. Cyril and Methodius.

A Gnostic Valentine
Far more prominent historically than any of the Saint Valentines is Valentinius of Alexandria (c. 100 - c.
153). He was an influential Gnostic teacher and a candidate for Bishop of Rome in 143.[8] In his teachings,
the marriage bed assumed a central place in his version of Christian love, an emphasis sharply contrasting
with the asceticism of mainstream Christianity. Stephan A. Hoeller assesses Valentinius on the subject: "In
addition to baptism, anointing, eucharist, the initiation of priests and the rites of the dying, the Valentinian
Gnosis mentions prominently two great and mysterious sacraments called 'redemption' (apolytrosis) and
'bridal chamber' respectively."[9].
The Roman goddess Juno is often depicted as a severe beauty. The festival of Juno Februa was celebrated on
February 13-14.

February fertility festivals

The association of the middle of February with love and fertility dates to ancient times. On the ancient
Athens calendar, the period between mid-January and mid-February was the month of Gamelion, dedicated
to the sacred marriage of Zeus and Hera.
In Ancient Rome, February 15 was Lupercalia. Plutarch wrote:
Lupercalia, of which many write that it was anciently celebrated by shepherds, and has also some connection with the
Arcadian Lycaea. At this time many of the noble youths and of the magistrates run up and down through the city
naked, for sport and laughter striking those they meet with shaggy thongs. And many women of rank also purposely
get in their way, and like children at school present their hands to be struck, believing that the pregnant will thus be
helped in delivery, and the barren to pregnancy.

The word Lupercalia comes from lupus, or wolf, so the holiday may be connected with the legendary wolf
that suckled Romulus and Remus. Lupercalia was a festival local to the city of Rome. The more general
Festival of Juno Februa, meaning "Juno the purifier" or "the chaste Juno," was celebrated on February 13-14.
Pope Gelasius I (492-496) abolished Lupercalia. Some historians argue that Candlemas (then held on
February 14, later moved to February 2) was promoted as its replacement, but this feast was already being
celebrated in Jerusalem by AD 381. The pope also declared in 496 that the feast of St. Valentine would be on
February 14.

Chaucer's love birds

A portrait of English poet Geoffrey Chaucer by Thomas Hoccleve (1412). The earliest known link between
Valentine's Day and romance is found in Chaucer's poetry.
The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by
Geoffrey Chaucer[1]:
For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese [chose] his make [mate].
This poem was written to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to
Anne of Bohemia. A treaty providing for a marriage was signed on May 2, 1381. (When they were married
eight months later, he was 13 or 14. She was 14.)

On the liturical calendar, May 2 is the saints' day for Valentine of Genoa. This St. Valentine was an early
bishop of Genoa who died around AD 307. Readers incorrectly assumed that Chaucer was referring to
February 14 as Valentine's Day. However, mid-February is an unlikely time for birds to be mating in
England.[.

Medieval and modern times

In medieval England and France, it was common for lovers to exchange notes on this day and to call each
other their "valentines".
Using the language of the law courts for the rituals of courtly love, a "High Court of Love" was established
in Paris on Valentine's Day in 1400. The court dealt with love contracts, betrayals, and violence against
women. Judges were selected by women on the basis of a poetry reading.
The earliest surviving valentine dates from 1415. It is a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his
wife. At the time, the duke was being held in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of
Agincourt.
It is probable that the various legends about St. Valentine were invented during this period. Among these
legends:

On the evening before Valentine was to be martyred for being a Christian, he passed a love note to
his jailer's daughter that read, "From your Valentine."

During a ban on marriages of Roman soldiers by the Emperor Claudius II, St. Valentine secretly
helped arrange marriages.

Valentine's Day is mentioned by the character Ophelia in Hamlet: "Tomorrow is Saint Valentine's Day."
In 1836, relics of St. Valentine of Rome were donated by Pope Gregory XVI to the Whitefriar Street
Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland. In the 1960s, the church was renovated and relics restored to
prominence.
In 1969, as part of a larger effort to pare down the number of saint days of purely legendary origin, the
Church removed St. Valentine's Day as an official holiday from its calendar. February 14 is now dedicated
only to Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius.

Valentine's Day in North America

Valentine's Day postcard, circa 1910
Valentine's Day was probably imported into North America in the 19th century by British settlers. In the
United States, the first mass-produced valentines of embossed paper lace were produced and sold shortly
after 1847 by Esther Howland (1828-1904) of Worcester, Massachusetts. Her father operated a large book
and stationery store, and she took her inspiration from an English valentine she had received. Since 2001, the
Greeting Card Association has been giving an annual "Esther Howland Award for a Greeting Card
Visionary".
In the second half of the 20th century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all manners of gifts
in the United States, usually from a man to a woman. Such gifts typically include roses and chocolates. In
the 1980s, the diamond industry began to promote Valentine's Day as an occasion for giving jewelry.

The day has come to be associated with a generic platonic greeting of "Happy Valentine's Day."
Those without a significant other sometimes speak with sarcasm by referring to Valentine's Day as "Singles'
Awareness Day".
In some North American elementary schools, students are asked to give a Valentine card or small gift to
everyone in the class. The greeting cards of these students often mention what they appreciate about each
other. Though this practice has been criticized for possibly being irrelevant or inappropriate, it has continued
for decades.

Valentine's Day in other cultures

Thanks to a concentrated marketing effort, Valentine's Day has emerged in Japan and Korea as a day on
which women, and less commonly men, give candy, chocolate or flowers to people they like. This has
become an obligation for many women. Those who work in offices end up giving chocolates to all their male
co-workers, sometimes at significant personal expense. This chocolate is known as giri-choko (),
in Japan, from the words giri (obligation) and choko, a common short version of chokorto (),
meaning chocolate. This contrasts with honmei-choko, which is given to a person someone loves or has a
strong relationship with. Friends, especially girls, exchange chocolate that is referred to as tomo-choko (
); tomo means friend in Japanese.
By a further marketing effort, a reciprocal day called White Day has emerged. On March 14, men are
expected to return the favour to those who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day. Many men, however,
give only to their girlfriends. Originally, the return gift was supposed to be white chocolate or
marshmallows; hence "White Day". However, men have taken the name to a different meaning and lingerie
has become a common gift.
In Korea, there is an additional Black Day on April 14, when males who did not receive anything for
Valentine's Day gather together to eat Jajangmyun (Chinese-style noodles in black sauce). In South Korea,
there is also Pepero Day, celebrated on November 11, during which young couples give each other romantic
gifts.
In Chinese Culture, there is a similar counterpart of the Valentine's Day. It is called "The Night of Sevens",
on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar; the last one being August 30, 2006. A slightly different
version of this day is celebrated in Japan as Tanabata, on July 7th on the solar calendar. There is another
Chinese version of Valentine's Day on the 15th day of the 1st month of the lunar calendar. This is also the
'Last Day of Chinese New Year' where Chinese people celebrate Chinese New Year for as long as 15 days.
During that day, girls traditionally write their name and address on a mandarin orange, and modern people
will write their name, address, cellphone number and also e-mail and finally throw it onto a river to seek for
a future lover. Boys will seek for these oranges to find their future lover. This tradition is still kept today.
In Persian Culture (Iran) this popular date is discreetly celebrated by most lovers despite the disapproval of
such occasion by the hardline Islamic government as a copycat of the West.
According to Jewish tradition the 15th day of the month of Av - Tu B'Av (usually late August) is the festival
of love (hag haahava). In ancient times girls would wear white dresses and dance in the vineyards, where the
boys would be waiting for them (Mishna Taanith end of Chapter 4). In modern Israeli culture this is a
popular day to pronounce love, propose marriage and give gifts like cards or flowers.

In Brazil, there is no Valentine's Day. Instead, "Dia dos Namorados" (lit. "Day of the enamored", or
"Boyfriend's/Girlfriend's Day") is celebrated on June 12, when couples exchange gifts such as lingerie,
chocolates, cards and usually a flower bouquet. This day is chosen probably because it is the day before the
Saint Anthony's day, known there as the marriage saint, when many single women perform popular rituals in
order to find a good husband (or nowadays, a boyfriend).
In Colombia, the "Da del amor y la amistad" (lit. "Love and Friendship Day") is celebrated on the third
Friday and Saturday in September, because of commercial issues. In this country the Amigo secreto ("Secret
friend") tradition is quite popular, which consists of randomly assigning to each participant a recipient who
is to be given an anonymous gift (similar to the Christmas tradition of Secret Santa).
In Mexico, the "Da del amor y la amistad" is celebrated similar to Colombia but this one falls on February
14.
In Finland, Valentine's Day is called "Ystvnpiv" which translates into Friend's day. As the name says the
day is more about remembering your friends than your loved ones.
In Slovenia, a proverb says that St Valentine brings the keys of roots so on 14th February plants and flowers
start to grow. Valentine's Day has been celebrated as the day when the first works in the vineyards and on the
fields commence. It is also said that birds propose to each other or marry on that day. Nevertheless, it has
only recently been celebrated as the day of love. The day of love is traditionally 12 March, the Saint
Gregory's day. Another proverb says "Valentin - prvi spomladin" (Valentine first saint of spring), as in
some places (especially White Carniola) Saint Valentine marks the beginning of spring.
In Romania, the traditional holiday for lovers is Dragobete, which is celebrated on February 24. It is named
after a character from Romanian folklore who was supposed to be the son of Baba Dochia. Part of his name
is the word "drag" (dear), which can also be found in the word "dragoste" (love). In recent years, Romania
has also started celebrating Valentine's Day, despite already having Dragobete as a traditional holiday. This
has drawn backlash from many groups, particularly nationalist organizations like Noua Dreapt, who
condemn Valentine's Day for being superficial, commercialist and imported Western kitsch.
In Norway, Valentines Day is known as "Valentinsdagen". It is not celebrated to a large extent, but some
people take time to be romantic with their partner, or send a card to a secret love.
Valentines Day also has regional traditions in the UK. In Norfolk a character called 'Jack' Valentine knocks
on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children. Although leavings treats, many children
were scared of this mystical person.
The History of Valentine's Day
Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St.
Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron
saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we
know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he
become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine
or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II
decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his
crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for
young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where
they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. 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, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.

Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic,
and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in
England and France.

History of St. Valentine's Day

St Valentine's Day was supposedly started in the time of the Roman Empire. In Ancient Rome, the date of February 14
was a holiday to honor the Queen of Roman Goddesses and Gods, Juno. Juno was known as the Goddess of women
and marriage. The next day February 15 was the first day of the Festival known as the Feast of Lupercia.
On February 14 is was said that the young boys and girls of the villages would write down the names of every girl and
place these names in a jar of which each young man would have to draw a name of a girl and this particular maiden
would be their partner for the duration of the festival. Sometimes these parings would last a year and end up in
marriage.
These rituals under the laws of Claudius were banned as the Emperor believed that the reasons why men would now
go to war were because they did not want to leave their lovers or families. As a result all marriages and engagements
were canceled as a result Saint Valentine a Roman priest was said to have married these couples in secret and for this
he was executed on the 14th day of February.
While St Valentine was in jail it is said that he fell in love with the jailers daughter. By a miracle or some say by the
prayers of Valentine she gained her sight and as a last farewell in a note he was to "From Your Valentine".
Another stary as to the origins of Valentine's day was that he was a priest who was also a physician and would cure
the sick. He was also said to have tried to cure the jailers blind daughter, but, was arrested and on the day of his
execution he wrote a note as a final farewell saying "From your Valentine" which some say is what caused her to gain
her sight.
It is also said whilst he was in jail awaiting execution that he was sent little notes and flowers from the children whom
he had helped when they were sick. This also may have been one of the reasons why he sent a farewell note to the
jailers daughter and why we send valentines.
St Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14 of each year, the reason why it is celebrated on this day is because
this was the day that the Patron Saint of Lovers "St Valentine" was supposedly executed on. On this day lovers all
around the world mark this occasion as a day for sending poems, cards, flowers or candy, etc. They might also be a
social gathering or ball to mark the occasion.
Another Interesting origin is that St Valentine was the patron Saint of Epilepsy reason was that he was supposedly a
sufferer and took a keen interest in those who suffered from this affliction and also that those who suffered this disease
were suffering from Valentine's sickness.

The Story of Valentine's Day

The holiday of Valentine's Day probably derives its origins from the ancient Roman
feast of Lupercalia. In the early days of Rome, fierce wolves roamed the woods
nearby. The Romans called upon one of their gods, Lupercus, to keep the
wolves away. A festival held in honor of Lupercus was celebrated February
15th. The festival was celebrated as a spring festival. Their calendar was
different at that time, with February falling in early springtime.

One of the customs of the young people was name-drawing. On the eve of the festival of
Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each
young man drew a slip. The girl whose name was chosen was to be his sweetheart for the year
Legend has it that the holiday became Valentine's Day after a priest named Valentine. Valentine
was a priest in Rome at the time Christianity was a new religion. The Emperor at that time,
Claudius II, ordered the Roman soldiers NOT to marry or become engaged. Claudius believed that
as married men, his soldiers would want to stay home with their families rather than fight his wars.
Valentine defied the Emperor's decree and secretly married the young couples. He was eventually
arrested, imprisoned, and put to death

Valentine was beheaded on February 14th, the eve of the Roman holiday Lupercalia. After his
death, Valentine was named a saint. As Rome became more Christian, the priests moved the spring
holiday from the 15th of February to the 14th - Valentine's Day. Now the holiday honored Saint
Valentine instead of Lupercus

The Most Famous of Valentine Symbols

Cupid has always played a role in the celebrations of love and lovers. He is
known as a mischievous, winged child, whose arrows who would pierce the
hearts of his victims causing them to fall deeply in love. In ancient Greece he was
known as Eros the young son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. To the
Roman's he was Cupid, and his mother Venus

One legend tells the story of

Cupid and the mortal maiden, Psyche. Venus was

jealous of the beauty of Psyche, and ordered Cupid to punish the mortal. But instead, Cupid
fell deeply in love with her. He took her as his wife, but as a mortal she was forbidden to look
at him. Psyche was happy until her sisters convinced her to look at Cupid. Cupid punished her
by departing. Their lovely castle and gardens vanished with him and Psyche found herself
alone in an open field

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As she wandered to find her love, she came upon the temple of Venus. Wishing to destroy
her, the goddess of love gave Psyche a series of tasks, each harder and dangerous than the last.
For her last task Psyche was given a little box and told to take it to the underworld. She was

told to get some of the beauty of Proserpine, the wife of Pluto, and put it in the box.

During her trip she was given tips on avoiding the dangers of the realm of the
dead. And also warned not to open the box. Temptation would overcome Psyche and she
opened the box. But instead of finding beauty, she found deadly slumber
Cupid found her lifeless on the ground. He gathered the sleep from her body and put it
back in the box. Cupid forgave her, as did Venus. The gods, moved by Psyche's love for Cupid

made her a goddess.

Make your own Valentines Day Greeting Cards with these "old fashioned" holiday
images. Easily print these images out to make your own Valentine's Day card or
love note for that someone special!!

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