Saint Valentines Day

We celebrate Valentines Day every year of February 14th, but do you really know anything about it? Where did it originate? How much money is spent? Where is it celebrated? Well I've done some research and learned a few interesting things. It originated in 496 BC. Pope Gelasius declared February 14th as Saint Valentines Day because of what is suspected to have happened when Valentine was alive. Valentine was a priest that continued to marry couples even though the Emperor of Rome Claudius II decided he wanted single men to join his army. Claudius was infuriated and had him jailed. While in jail he sat and talked with the jailors daughter, and became very close to her. On the day he was executed, February 14th 296 BC he wrote a letter to the jailors daughter and signed it "From Your Valentine". Whether that is the truth or just a cute myth it is still an interesting idea.
Now we can send greeting cards to anyone saying "Happy Valentines Day", but it used to be that people would handwrite declarations of love to whomever they wanted to know they loved them. Greeting cards for Valentines day started in Great Britian in 1847, and has now turned into the large billion dollar "Hallmark Holiday". It is sad to say that a day of true love has turned into a day of how much you can spend. It doesn't have to be that way though. You can still buy cards and candy, but when you write in the card to the person instead of signing your name why not write a note of why you are giving them the Valentine. Even if you aren't romantically in love with the person you can still tell them why you love them.
It is also believed that Romantic love was never associated with Valentines Day until Geoffry Chaucer, a famous writer, wrote a poem for King Richard II and his soon to be wife Anne of Bohemia. In the poem he wrote:
For this was on seynt Volantynys day
When eury byrd comyth there to chese his make
Meaning
For this on Saint Valentines Day
When every bird comes to chose his mate
It has been believed that is the first time that romantic love was created for Valentines Day. Scholars, however, believe that this cannot be true because birds rarely mate in February but rather in May. The treaty for the Kings marriage was signed on May 2nd which is also a day that another Saint Valentine was executed.
There are also those that do not like to observe this day, because they believe the commercialism has gone too far. I personally think it is a fun day, and although I am without a Valentine it is still sweet that people with busy schedules and hectic lives take a second to realize the person they love.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are both heavily islamic nations, and have decided that Valentines Day is banned. Saudi see's it as a religious day, and Pakistan thinks that those who celebrate it are all sex thirsty so we are trying to quench that thirst.
Besides those two places Valentines Day is observed all around the world, some for friendship, some for love, some for fun. It doesn't matter if you're dating someone, married, or single. You can still have fun on Valentines Day. Like me, today I think I'll go to the gym!
Happy Valentines Day, Dia Dos Namorados, San Valentin, Valentinsdag, Ystävänpäivä, Día del Amor y la Amistad
Wherever you are from have a happy one!
Layla Fontaine