Day 14: Valentine’s Day from day 1

Many legends exist about how Valentine’s Day originated. One of them goes like this: it all started in the third century in Rome. Emperor Claudius II of Rome believed that single men were better soldiers, so in order to build a stronger army he outlawed marriage. Valentine, a Roman Priest, disagreed with the decision and went against the emperor marrying couples secretly. The emperor caught Valentine and ordered him to death.

Some say that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February in order to commemorate Valentine’s death while others believe that the Christian church wanted to “Christianize” the celebration of the Lupercalia, a fertility festival dedicated to the Roman god of Faunus (agriculture) and Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome.

Originally the holiday was not associated with love when it was declared St. Valentine’s Day by Pope Gelasius; but in the MIddle Ages February 14th was believed to be the bird’s mating season, thus symbolizing romance. At this time the first Valentine was written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was in prison.

It is believed that hand-made Valentine’s Day cards were brought to America in the early 1700s. Esther A. Howland, “Mother of the Valentine” was the first person to mass-produce and sell valentines in America in the 1840s.

Today, Valentines is a special day for many couples all over the world. It is a day of romance, love and celebration. Couples around the world exchange approximately one billion cards on this day of love.

“Valentine’s Day is full of love and should be spent with people you love whether it be a loved one, friends or family, it’s a day to show the important people in your life how much you care about them,” junior Sara Kong said.

But this day is not just a day for couples, it is a day for friends and even strangers, comforting each other with notes of love, affection and appreciation. With love in the air on this special day, send a card, exchange a gift and tell someone how much they mean to you.