Speaking of love, isn't that what Valentine's Day is all about? The centuries-old holiday is celebrated in the name of St. Valentine by swapping cards, candies, and gifts, but who is St. Valentine? What is the history of this lovely holiday?
One legend says that St. Valentine was a priest who, when the emperor of Rome in the 3rd century prohibited young men to marry in favor of them becoming soldiers, continued to marry young people in love in secret. Another story has St. Valentine being killed for helping imprisoned Christians escape the Romans. A third legend says that Valentine himself was imprisoned and sent the first valentine card to a young girl with whom he'd fallen in love during her visits to his place of incarceration. Legend would have him sign his letter "from your Valentine," a phrase that has survived to be printed on the Valentine cards we send today.
This time of the year was celebrated by the Pagans as a festival called Lupercalia, which focused on fertility, and by Christians as St. Valentine's feast. It was at the end of the fifth century when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine's Day. However, the association with love that defines the day for us now didn't come about until much later, and well into the Middle Ages.
The earliest known written Valentine dates to the year 1415, and was written by Charles, Duke of Orleans, during the Hundred Years' War.
Today, Valentine's Day is celebrated in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Mexico, and Australia. The Greeting Card association estimates that about 1 billion Valentines cards are sent each holiday.
With that much love being spread, maybe we could extend some to the Boy Scouts of America!
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