Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day! Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Valentine’s Day, what’s the significance?
After some research, the ancient Romans are responsible for the name of our modern day of love. Emperor Claudius II executed two men, both named Valentine on Feb. 14 of different years in the 3rd century A.D. Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St. Valentine's Day.
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial which probably occurred around A.D. 270 others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine's feast day in the middle of February.
The first Valentine's Day was in the year 496! Having a particular Valentine's Day is a very old tradition, thought to have originated from a Roman festival. The Romans had a festival called Lupercalia in the middle of February - officially the start of their springtime
Now here’s where it takes a romantic turn. The oldest known Valentine was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. (The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England.)
View of the tower where Charles was captured, illustrated in “Poems of Charles, Duke d’Orleans” c. 1500. (Credit: Apic/Getty Images)
My very gentle Valentine,
Since for me you were born too soon,
And I for you was born too late.
God forgives him who has estranged
Me from you for the whole year.
I am already sick of love,
My very gentle Valentine.
How beautiful, to have a love letter written that is passed down from generation to generation, in this case, it’s memorialized! What are you doing for Valentine’s Day? I’ll be at my kiddos school throwing a party, can’t wait for the kids to see the arts and crafts station I’m going to set up. Most importantly, I’m taking my little man to Lady and the Tramp special screening.
To learn a little bit more about, “What is Love?” Visit Catholic Central, Kai and Libby explain the different kinds of love and how we can all keep ourselves from being selfish when it comes to love.