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Every February, across the country,
candy,
flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in
the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why
do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day
-- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know
that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day,
as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient
Roman tradition. Read more about
St. Valentine and Valentine's
Day on our catalog pages of Valentine's Day Gifts and Home Decor
Items.
So, who was Saint Valentine and how
did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic
Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or
Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that
Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome.
When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better
soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage
for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine,
realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued
to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's
actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for
attempting to! help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they
were often beaten and tortured.
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