Legends of Valentine’s Day
The background of what is today celebrated as St. Valentine’s Day is connected with a couple of old legends which attempt to explain the origins of this holiday. Most often they concentrate on the figure of Saint Valentine himself.
One of the most popular legends presents St. Valentine as a person who defied Roman law in the name of love. In the 3rd century AD, the Emperor Claudius II noticed that young men were not willing to join the army because they cared more about their families and their personal life. In order to recruit more soldiers, he established a ban on marriages. He also gave an order to arrest every priest who performed wedding ceremonies. A Roman bishop called Valentine turned out to have a lot of sympathy for young people in love and he secretly performed the wedding rites. Of course, his actions were soon unveiled. The emperor had him captured and executed. The public execution was conducted on February 14, a date celebrated later as St. Valentine’s Day.
Another well-known legend provides an explanation of the origin of Valentine cards and why they are called this way. The story concentrates on St. Valentine during the time he spent in prison. After being caught by the emperor’s soldiers, he was put in jail where he awaited his death. He is believed to have miraculously restored the sight of the jailor, a deed which earned him the sympathy of the jailor himself and his daughter. The day before the execution, Valentine wrote a farewell note to the girl and he signed it with the words: “From Your Valentine”. Centuries ago, the phrase began to be used as a traditional signature on letters, short notes and cards exchanged between lovers on Valentine’s Day.
Another version on this legend says that Valentine was put in prison because he refused to praise the Roman gods and he tried to convert others to Christian faith. He also tried to help other Christians escape from prison where they were tortured. The state law of Rome was strongly against Christianity and it persecuted those who practiced it. It was a time of many Christian martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of faith and religion.