04 February 2022

Valentine's Day, you know why?

It is said that Valentine was a Roman who lived in the^third century under Emperor Claudius II, nicknamed Claudius the Cruel. Having great difficulty in recruiting soldiers, Claudius thought that the homes, wives and children of his men were the cause, and so decided to ban marriages. But one priest continued to perform marriages: the priest Valentinus. When the emperor found out about this, he immediately had him arrested and sentenced him to death. While Valentin was in prison he met the daughter of his guardian who was blind. The story goes that just before he was beheaded, Valentine gave his beloved back her sight by sending her a note signed "Your Valentine".

It's a nice story, but it's only a legend. In 498, the pope decided to fix Valentine's Day on 14 February. Three Valentines were chosen by him. Saint Valentine, who was beheaded in 270 AD; another contemporary Valentine from the third century, Bishop Valentine of Terni; and a third Valentine, of African origin, about whom little is known.

Pagan festival

It is also said that Valentine's Day was created to replace a pagan festival in force among the Romans: the Lupercales. A festival in homage to the god Lupercus: god of fertility. On this day, men dressed up and were allowed to roam the streets in search of lonely young girls. And if they caught one, it was to copulate. As you can see, this festival is terribly chilling.

The mission of the latter was obviously to promote reproduction and the creation of new couples. Too many injunctions, sexism and rape culture in one evening. In any case, this explanation is once again probably wrong. And for good reason, no literature or text associates 14 February with theromantic love. It is necessary to wait until the 14th^ème century for a strange tradition to emerge. In England, 14 February is said to be the day on which the birds reproduce the most. The poets of the 14th^ème and 15^ème century then took on the task of inventing the myth of the lovers' festival, also the festival of friendships.

In the 19th century, the phenomenon really took off with the creation of "Valentines": little sweet words that lovers and very good friends sent to each other. Finally, in the 20th century, Valentine's Day continued with the creation of greeting cards, and then became solely reserved for lovers. The friendship aspect gradually disappeared - which is a shame. And today, a clever commercial turn, almost a billion greeting cards are sent on Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day Wedding Suzanne Ceremony

ps: If you receive 12 roses on Valentine's Day, don't be naive....this is a marriage proposal and you can style your hair freely with our darling Bride-to-Be ! ;-)

source text Marie Claire.

Valentine's Day, you know why?

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