The festival of lovers has a eerie past.
As the winter melts into spring and the first bird sings outside your window, you look at the calendar and note that it is almost Valentine’s Day. The 14th of February is celebrated all over the world as the day of lovers, but how did it all begin? Who was St. Valentine? He is not one appointed by the Roman Catholic Church, that much we know for sure.
Though no one has been able to verify it the origin of the holiday is said to be in memory of a Priest called Valentino. In Ancient Rome there was a rule that soldiers in active duty could not marry. The king believed that a married man did not make a tough soldier. Any who did marry would be put to death instantly.
Consider that the army is full of young men. And these attractive and physically fit young men of the army were sure to have sweethearts. And these young couples who longed to be wed were helped by Valentino in his church. Under threat of death the Priest united many soldiers with their beloved ones.
This was the old man's way of serving the power of love. Eventually the poor priest was caught out one day when a wedding was in progress and so he was martyred. So in his memory lovers celebrated his contribution to the cause of true love. And gradually the day for love and its celebration caught on all over the world. And that is why we celebrate Valentine’s day.
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