History of Valentine's Day

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Who likes celebrating Valentine's Day? It is one of those holidays with no middle ground. One loves it, or they experience disdain for the day. In America, February 14 is known as the day of love. Flower and candy sales soar. But just whose idea was it to set aside a day to celebrate love? Shouldn't every day be a day to show our loved ones affection? It is believed that Valentine's Day has its roots in both Christian and Roman traditions. In ancient Rome, Lupercalia was celebrated on February 15. This was a pagan fertility celebration. It is also reported that under the Roman Emperor Claudius II. It was during this reign (around 270 A.D.) that the emperor became disgruntled because men would rather marry and focus on their families than join the military. Claudius wanted to force the men into the military, so he made any new marriages illegal. However, St. Valentine continued to marry couples secretly. Claudius had him arrested and in 278 A.D. he was beheaded on February 14. In the 5th C., Pope Gelasius wanted to Christianize Lupercalia in an effort to attract people to the Catholic church. St. Valentine was honored and Feb. 14 was deemed Valentine's Day, a day to celebrate love. I was never a big Valentine's Day fan. I thought the holiday was cheesy, and that we should show love to our family and friends every day. I still believe in, every day, celebrating our loved ones, but the holiday does seem more desirable when one understands the stance St. Valentine took for love and marriage.