The Love Month

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that reminds us to be thoughtful to the people that we love. Traditionally, we give a heart shaped box of candy, flowers, or some other gift that expresses our love and devotion. How did February 14th become Valentine’s Day? Even though the origins of this holiday are shrouded in mystery, we do know that two Catholic saints are given credit for this celebration. Valentine was a priest who served during the third century Rome. Emperor Claudius II realized that single men made better soldiers since they did not have wives and families, so he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine did not agree with this edict and defied the emperor’s orders by marrying young couples secretly. When Claudius found out that Valentine had defied his orders, he had Valentine put to death. Others say it was St. Valentine Terni, a bishop, who was beheaded by Claudius. According to legend, St. Valentine was said to have healed the blind daughter of his jailer and later wrote a letter signed “your Valentine” just before he was executed. Both men were executed on February 14th of different years in 3rd century A.D. The Catholic Church honored their martyrdom by celebrating February 14th as Valentine’s Day. As a result, Valentine’s Day is celebrated by lovers all over the world.