The History:
Believe it or not, Valentine's Day is said to have originated as far back as Pagan times! Yes, this special day of love is linked to ancient Rome and the pastoral festival of Lupercalia. Dating back to the time when Rome was founded (around 753BC), this fertility festival (involving animal sacrifices) was dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture and to the founders of Rome: Romulus and Remus. Most importantly, it is a festival which took place on February 15th, creating strong associations with our more modern Valentine's Day.
Christian Martyrs:
History has it that there were three Christian saints, all sharing the name Valentine, who could be the reason we celebrate love on February the 14th. Sadly, they had more than their names in common: they were all martyred on exactly the same dayyes, you've guessed it!
Saint Valentine was a martyred saint who was brave enough to defy the emperor at the time: Claudius II. The emperor had decided that fighting men should never be distracted by the wiles of women. So strongly did he believe this, that he forbade young men to marry. Our Valentine, naturally, did not agree and thought nothing of surreptitiously marrying couples. A decision which was to cost him his life. However, he is never forgotten as every February 14th, we honour his name and his resolute belief in love.
Chaucer's Love Birds:
February is a strange 'little' month, a busy month before the onset of Spring. And this is nowhere more evident than in the animal world. Birds select their partners and procreation begins. Geoffrey Chaucer, that popular poet of the 14th Century, remarked on this in his poem " Parliament of Fowls" when he claimed: "For this was on St. Valentine's Day, When every fowl cometh there to choose his mate." And, in so doing, he has fully cemented the idea of love to Valentine's Day.
Cards of Love:
By the 18th Century, Valentine's Day was fully ensconced as a day to celebrate love. Cards and gifts made by hand were exchanged as a way to cement relationships and even to initiate them. In the USA, Valentine's Day took longer to surface. Having been impressed by the cards in Britain, Esther Howland started to design and sell cards: and the rest, they say, is history. The celebration of Christmas has always been a top commercial earner but, today, Valentine's Day is a close second. It is a day young couples in love embrace all over the world. A day too which businesses embrace with glee all over the world!
Believe it or not, Valentine's Day is said to have originated as far back as Pagan times! Yes, this special day of love is linked to ancient Rome and the pastoral festival of Lupercalia. Dating back to the time when Rome was founded (around 753BC), this fertility festival (involving animal sacrifices) was dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture and to the founders of Rome: Romulus and Remus. Most importantly, it is a festival which took place on February 15th, creating strong associations with our more modern Valentine's Day.
Christian Martyrs:
History has it that there were three Christian saints, all sharing the name Valentine, who could be the reason we celebrate love on February the 14th. Sadly, they had more than their names in common: they were all martyred on exactly the same dayyes, you've guessed it!
Saint Valentine was a martyred saint who was brave enough to defy the emperor at the time: Claudius II. The emperor had decided that fighting men should never be distracted by the wiles of women. So strongly did he believe this, that he forbade young men to marry. Our Valentine, naturally, did not agree and thought nothing of surreptitiously marrying couples. A decision which was to cost him his life. However, he is never forgotten as every February 14th, we honour his name and his resolute belief in love.
Chaucer's Love Birds:
February is a strange 'little' month, a busy month before the onset of Spring. And this is nowhere more evident than in the animal world. Birds select their partners and procreation begins. Geoffrey Chaucer, that popular poet of the 14th Century, remarked on this in his poem " Parliament of Fowls" when he claimed: "For this was on St. Valentine's Day, When every fowl cometh there to choose his mate." And, in so doing, he has fully cemented the idea of love to Valentine's Day.
Cards of Love:
By the 18th Century, Valentine's Day was fully ensconced as a day to celebrate love. Cards and gifts made by hand were exchanged as a way to cement relationships and even to initiate them. In the USA, Valentine's Day took longer to surface. Having been impressed by the cards in Britain, Esther Howland started to design and sell cards: and the rest, they say, is history. The celebration of Christmas has always been a top commercial earner but, today, Valentine's Day is a close second. It is a day young couples in love embrace all over the world. A day too which businesses embrace with glee all over the world!
About the Author:
Home House is a social hotspot for people from all walks of life, which is part of its unique appeal. Quite unlike many other members only clubs in London, Home House is a place to enjoy leisure time or the perfect spot for a working day. Home House is London's premier romantic hotspot.
