Valentine’s Day, also known as the feast of St.Valentine is celebrated internationally on February the 14th of each year.
Valentine’s day originated from Saint Valentine who was known for his imprisonment for carrying out prohibited wedding ceremonies for soldiers and ministering to Christians following their persecution due to the Roman Empire, as the Roman emperor wanted all Romans to believe in the Roman Gods and Christians who opposed this were persecuted.
Whilst Saint Valentine was in prison he was said to have cured the jailer’s daughter of her blindness, he wrote the jailer’s daughter a letter before he was going to be executed signing it; “from your valentine” which is now used in Valentine’s letters and cards today in order for someone to exhibit their love for another person. The next day, on February the 14th Saint Valentine was beheaded for his Christian beliefs and alleged miracle performing on the jailer’s daughter.
Valentine’s day is celebrated in modern day society by loved ones sharing cards, flowers, chocolates and gifts with each other in order to express their love. Symbols such as Cupid the Roman God of love depicted as a boy with a heart shaped bow and arrow, white doves and hearts are all associated with love on Valentine’s day and feature on Valentines cards. Valentines cards were originally hand-written but are now sold in shops as greeting-cards. The feast of St. Valentines is celebrated in the Anglican communion and the Lutheran Church.
