What's Love Got To Do With It?

Will the real St. Valentine please stand up? According to researchers and historians, there are several theories, both curious and interesting, surrounding the events that cause us to recognize February 14th as St. Valentine's Day.

The most popular belief is that Valentine, the lovers' saint, was a Roman priest who suffered martyrdom in the third century, under the reign of Claudius II. The time was about 270 A.D. and the Romans were jailing and killing Christians who were giving up the worship of Roman gods. This was not good for the Romans as they needed more soldiers for their army. So Emporer Claudius II made a law that young men could not marry and he also issued an order that nay priest who married a couple would be killed.

A priest named Valentine was said to have ignored this law and secretly married young men and women. When Claudius found out, he had Valentine arrested and on February 14, of about the year 270 A.D., Valentine was put to death in Rome. Valentine was later named a Christian saint and since he had helped lovers, he was remembered in a loving way. Therefore, February 14, the day he died, became a day for people to express their love for each other.

The second most popular theory, although lesser known, was about another Valentine who was known for his love of children. The very same Claudius II, (who sounds like quite a nasty chap to me), had him jailed for helping Christians who were oppressed by the Romans. Emperor Claudius told him he could live if he gave up Christianity. Valentine refused and was sentenced to die. It was said that he befriended a young blind girl who brought him food in jail. He was so touched by her kindness and courage that by a miracle, he made her see again. Just before he died, Valentine sent a note to the girl and signed it, "From your Valentine."

Other versions of the holiday's origin go back to Roman festivals. The most popular one was called Lupercalia, held in February, honoring the great god Pan. One "ceremonial" rite was to put names of "willing young ladies" into a box and shake it up. If a lad wanted a companion for the festival, he drew a name and she became his "girl".

The most bizarre ritual of the Roman Lupercalia was a religious fertility rite, held on February 15th. As part of the ceremony, the young women let themselves be whipped with goatskins. They thought this would please the gods and in return, the gods would help them have children.

My theory? It really doesn't matter as long as I get my flowers, chocolates, hearts and lace!