MOST IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT VAL.


CONTENTS
1. Origins of Valentine’s Day: Another Pagan Festive Day

2. The Legendary of The Valentine’s Day: St. Valentine

3. Valentine’s Day:The Day of Romance

4. Typical Valentine’s Day Greetings

Origins of Valentine’s Day: Another Pagan Festive Day

Historians aren’t 100% sure about the origins of Valentine’s Day, but many believe it all started as the pre-Roman empire ritual known as Lupercalia, which sounded like a real hoot While some believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial–which probably occurred around A.D. 270–others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February in an effort to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.
To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at a sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification. They would then strip the goat’s hide into strips, dip them into the sacrificial blood and take to the streets, gently slapping both women and crop fields with the goat hide.

Every February 13 – 15, goats and dogs were sacrificed at an altar by the Luperci (or “brothers of the wolf”) as an offering. After that, folks were anointed in the blood of the animals, wiped clean with some wool soaked in milk (as one does), and feasted until they were full and drunk. Here’s how Plutarch describes the festivities:

…many of the noble youths and of the magistrates run up and down through the city naked, for sport and laughter striking those they meet with shaggy thongs. And many women of rank also purposely get in their way, and like children at school present their hands to be struck, believing that the pregnant will thus be helped in delivery, and the barren to pregnancy

The Legendary of The Valentine’s Day: St. Valentine



The real story of the man behind the holiday—St. Valentine.
“He was a Roman Priest at a time when there was an emperor called Claudias who persecuted the church at that particular time,” Father O’Gara explains. ” He also had an edict that prohibited the marriage of young people. This was based on the hypothesis that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers because married soldiers might be afraid of what might happen to them or their wives or families if they died.”
“I think we must bear in mind that it was a very permissive society in which Valentine lived,” says Father O’Gara. “Polygamy would have been much more popular than just one woman and one man living together. And yet some of them seemed to be attracted to Christian faith. But obviously the church thought that marriage was very sacred between one man and one woman for their life and that it was to be encouraged. And so it immediately presented the problem to the Christian church of what to do about this.”
“The idea of encouraging them to marry within the Christian church was what Valentine was about. And he secretly married them because of the edict.”
Valentine was eventually caught, imprisoned and tortured for performing marriage ceremonies against command of Emperor Claudius the second. There are legends surrounding Valentine’s actions while in prison.
“One of the men who was to judge him in line with the Roman law at the time was a man called Asterius, whose daughter was blind. He was supposed to have prayed with and healed the young girl with such astonishing effect that Asterius himself became Christian as a result.”
In the year 269 AD, Valentine was sentenced to a three part execution of a beating, stoning, and finally decapitation all because of his stand for Christian marriage. The story goes that the last words he wrote were in a note to Asterius’ daughter. He inspired today’s romantic missives by signing it, “from your Valentine.”
“What Valentine means to me as a priest,” explains Father O’Gara, “is that there comes a time where you have to lay your life upon the line for what you believe. And with the power of the Holy Spirit we can do that —even to the point of death.”
Valentine’s martyrdom has not gone unnoticed by the general public. In fact, Whitefriars Street Church is one of three churches that claim to house the remains of Valentine. Today, many people make the pilgrimage to the church to honor the courage and memory of this Christian saint.
“Valentine has come to be known as the patron saint of lovers. Before you enter into a Christian marriage you want some sense of God in your life—some great need of God in your life. And we know, particularly in the modern world, many people are meeting God through his Son, Jesus Christ.”
“If Valentine were here today, he would say to married couples that there comes a time where you’re going to have to suffer. It’s not going to be easy to maintain your commitment and your vows in marriage

Valentine’s Day:The Day of Romance

Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day of the year. Couples plan evenings of fine wine, boxed chocolates, elegant floral bouquets, soft music, and holding hands. While it seems like romance has always been the central theme of Valentine’s Day, it may interest you to know that this special day for lovers wasn’t always associated with activities such as a long walk under a starry sky, a romantic dinner cruise, or a surprise wedding proposal…

Typical Valentine’s Day Greetings

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For Your Sweetie
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Gorgeous.”
“Wishing the sweetest, happiest day to my forever Valentine.”
“Tonight is all ours. I can’t wait to celebrate with you.”
“Especially today, I hope you feel how much I love you and how grateful I am to have you in my life.”
“You take my breath away. Always.”
“You have no idea how sexy you are.”
“I couldn’t ask for a more wonderful [husband] than you.”
“My heart is all yours.”
“Thanks for being you and for being mine.”
“I love all the adventures we have together.”
“This will definitely be a kids-in-bed-early kind of night. XOXOXO”
“God is good. I know because he gave me you to love.”
“I’m so excited to be sharing our first Valentine’s Day together. I hope it’s the first of many…”
“Wish you were here for me to spoil today.”
“Has it really been [10] years? I’d do it all over in a heartbeat.”

For a Child
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Sweetheart.”
“It’s so sweet having a [daughter] like you. Hope your Valentine’s Day is extra sweet, too.”
“Love you bunches and bunches.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day to one of our sweetest blessings.”
“Missing you and sending you a big Valentine hug!”
“We love you oodles and oodles, [Aidan]!”
“Hope you get lots of fun treats today! XOXOXO,”
“U R 2 Cute!”
“Wishing a fantastic day to my favorite [8]-year-old Valentine!”
“Hope your day is filled with fun and your mouth is filled with chocolate!”
“Hope your day is just as awesome as you are!”
“Sweet treats on Valentine’s Day help us remember to be sweet to each other. And you’re one of the sweetest kids ever!”For Family
“[Dad], I hope you’re feeling really loved today. You are!”
“Have fun on Valentine’s Day, and don’t eat too much candy.”
“Hope your day is filled with reminders of how much you’re loved.”
“As my [Mom]…as a friend…as a Valentine…you’re the best!”
“You make me laugh. You make me think. You make me really glad we’re [sisters].”
“Thanks for all you do that makes my life happier (which is a lot!).”
“I don’t care what anyone says about you. I’m still sending you this valentine and claiming you as family.”
“Valentine’s Day is all about love, and [Mom], there is no one better than you at spreading God’s love wherever you go.”
“Eating a little chocolate cake in your honor, [Dad]. It’s not as good as yours, but it still brings back good memories of Valentine’s Days growing up!”
“Love you and miss you, [Mom]! Looking forward to seeing you next month at [Casey’s party]!”

For Friends
“Hope your day brings just what you want it to.”
“Thanks for being the loyal and caring [friend] you are. Love you!”
“Here’s to a Valentine’s Day filled with good wine, good food and especially good friends like you.”
“Happy Valentine’s to one of my favorite people. Ever.”
“Valentine’s Day and every day, I’m grateful for you.”
“Hope he spoils you. You deserve it.”
“Someday, our princes will come.”
“Wish we could be together swapping chocolates and laughing over candy hearts like we used to.”
“I’ll raise an awesome Valentine’s cocktail to you.”
“I hope you feel loved and appreciated on Valentine’s Day. Because you are.”
Writing tip: Don’t be afraid to go for a laugh. If your Valentine likes edgy or teasing humor, you already know it. If not, it’s almost always safe to make light of Valentine’s Day, yourself or love in general.

For Family
“[Dad], I hope you’re feeling really loved today. You are!”
“Have fun on Valentine’s Day, and don’t eat too much candy.”
“Hope your day is filled with reminders of how much you’re loved.”
“As my [Mom]…as a friend…as a Valentine…you’re the best!”
“You make me laugh. You make me think. You make me really glad we’re [sisters].”
“Thanks for all you do that makes my life happier (which is a lot!).”
“I don’t care what anyone says about you. I’m still sending you this valentine and claiming you as family.”
“Valentine’s Day is all about love, and [Mom], there is no one better than you at spreading God’s love wherever you go.”
“Eating a little chocolate cake in your honor, [Dad]. It’s not as good as yours, but it still brings back good memories of Valentine’s Days growing up!”
“Love you and miss you, [Mom]! Looking forward to seeing you next month at [Casey’s party]!”

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