Top 10 Interesting Facts About Valentine’s Day

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3. The first Valentine cards were sent from prison cells

The first Valentine cards were sent from prison cells- interesting facts about valentine's dayThe legend has it that Saint Valentine, after whom this day has been named, sent the first of the Valentine cards, after which the ever enduring tale of love and romance surrounding the day started. He was imprisoned and sent to death by King Claudius II for marrying the king’s soldiers without his permission. While he was in prison, Saint Valentine fell in love with his jailer’s daughter and just before he was receiving the death penalty, he wrote to her from his cell. The love note was signed “From your Valentine”. And, with that, began the tradition of people having and being someone’s valentine.

2. Valentine’s Day is associated to a pagan festival “Lupercalia”

Lupercalia festival- interesting facts about Valentine's day

Lupercalia was an ancient and possibly pre-Roman rural festival. This festival was observed on February 13 through 15 so as to avoid evil spirits and cleanse the city. The festival was held in honor of Faunus who was the Roman god of agriculture. Part of the festival involved women placing their names into a big vessel, which would then be picked out by the city’s bachelors. Each bachelor was paired with the woman whose name he picked up. This was done at the beginning of the festival and the chosen woman would be his companion at the festival. Some theories suggest that the woman would actually be the bachelor’s sexual partner for the next year. These matches often ended in marriage. However, later Pope Gelasius abolished it thinking it was too “un-Christian.” The origin of Valentine’s Day is attributed to this festival too.

 1. There were more than one St. Valentines

Saint valentine- interesting facts about valentine's day

This day, the festival of love, is named after St. Valentine. But, who he exactly was is unknown. In some legend, it is said that he was the saint, who secretly married young soldiers with their loved ones, the act forbidden by king during his time. After his deeds were exposed, he is said to have been imprisoned and sentenced to death. However, numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. The Valentines, officially honored by the Catholic Church on February 14 are Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni. Valentine of Rome was a Roman priest who received his martyrdom around the year AD 269. His relics are displayed in a Church in Rome as well as Dublin. Meanwhile, Valentine of Terni was the bishop of Interama around the year AD 197. He was killed by Emperor Aurelian. His relics are in display at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni. Both Saints were buried on Via Flaminia, in Rome. The stories of these two Valentines often conflict with each other and so the exact identity is not unknown. As per some researchers, both were the same person. The only thing, we all can agree upon now, is the naming of the day being after St. Valentine and him being at the center of this festival of love.

 Conclusion

Ever since people started celebrating Valentine’s Day, from its earliest forms, the festival has gone through lots of alterations. First, it was celebrated only by Christians. Now, the religion to which this day was initially associated is not a matter of big question. Almost every religion celebrates this festival, except the devout Muslims. In some Islamic states, it is even banned. People remember and celebrate the day in different ways. For couples, it is a way to express their love towards each other and rekindle their relationship. Some hopeful lovers look forward to this day so as to announce their feelings to someone they love for the first time. And, even the ones who “don’t have the time or drive for such feelings” look forward to this day with an air, an indifferent air, of course! But even in such differences, this day at least is remembered as the one relating to love, or more accurately romantic love. Share your love with us!

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