About Valentine's Day
There are three St. Valentine's -- one a priest, one a bishop, and little is known about the third. All were martyrs.
In 469 A.D., Pope Gelasius declared February 14 a day to honor St. Valentine, one of these three men.
One legend says that a Roman emperor banned soldiers from marrying in
the third century, but St. Valentine took issue with this. He became an
advocate for soldiers and was executed as a result of his outspokenness.
Another legend says St. Valentine was executed for his beliefs in Christianity and just before he died, he left a farewell note for a loved one and signed it "From Your Valentine."
A conventional and widely accepted belief about the holiday itself is that Valentine's Day grew out of a Middle Ages tradition of celebrating Feb. 14 as the day "the birds began to pair." History.com notes that February has long been associated with being a month of love.
Whatever its origin, it took off, and the U.S. Greeting Cards Association estimates Valentine's Day is the second-most popular card-giving day of the year, only to Christmas.
Another legend says St. Valentine was executed for his beliefs in Christianity and just before he died, he left a farewell note for a loved one and signed it "From Your Valentine."
A conventional and widely accepted belief about the holiday itself is that Valentine's Day grew out of a Middle Ages tradition of celebrating Feb. 14 as the day "the birds began to pair." History.com notes that February has long been associated with being a month of love.
Whatever its origin, it took off, and the U.S. Greeting Cards Association estimates Valentine's Day is the second-most popular card-giving day of the year, only to Christmas.
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