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In an earlier posting I told of how Claudius II ordered the death of bishop Valentine because he failed to convince him to switch his faith to that of the Roman Gods and Valentine actually tried to convert Claudius to the Catholic faith.
It is said that Valentine developed a friendship with his jailer Asterius and a deeper friendship with his Jailer’s daughter whom he had been credited with the miraculous cure of her blindness. Some believe he fell in love with her. Before his death Valentine penned a note to her in which he closed with “From Your Valentine” a phrase that lives on even today.
Martyred for refusing to give up or renounce his religion it is believed that St. Valentine was executed on February 14th 270 AD. Kind of ironic isn’t it. The day of his execution became a day associated with love and romance.
As so it is. Valentine’s day had its beginning. Young Roman lovers began exchanging notes expressing their love on February 14th and Valentine became the days patron saint.
By the 14th century St. Valentines Day really began to be associated with love. In the days of France and England during the medieval period it was believed that birds mated on February 14th. Images of birds began to adorn the love notes passed between lovers.
In a book, “Chaucer and the Cult of St. Valentine” the author penned “For this is on St. Valentine’s Day, when every foul cometh there to choose his mate.”
The History of Valentines Day will be continued in later postings by Bob’s Gift Baskets..
