The Origin of Valentine's Day

Rome was the scene of the Love and Romance that we celebrate today. Emperor Claudius II , was know as Claudius the Cruel. He had a hard time in getting the soldiers to join the military league. They did not want to leave their families, and wives. He then took drastic steps and cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. This was a cruel thing to do, to deny the Romans marriage to the person or woman they loved.

Remember that there will always be a militant in any given rule of law. Along came a Christian Priest named Valentine that was against the Emperor Claudius. He secretly married couples against the Emperors orders. Of course when the Roman Emperor Claudius found out about the ceremonies, Valentine was sent to prison and he dies in prison on February 14, in the year of 270 AD.

It took several hundreds years later before Valentine's Day was celebrated. When the Christians gained control, the Church did away with pagan holidays. It was then that Valentine's Day, did in fact replace, a fertility festival called Lupercalia. Valentine was made a Saint, in honor of his sacrifice for LOVE. Lupercalia was renamed Valentine's Day.

We celebrate the tradition today of Love and Fertility from the ancient holiday. When you think about the fertility it does fit the title. Love does turn into a marriage most of the time, and children are born into the marriage. It was the Catholic Church, that embrasses children into the marriage. So, this was a Roman Holiday since the year of 270.

In the modern day there was a massacre in Chicago, a Gangland Slaying, it will always be remembered in the State of Illinois, of the mass murder. It was carried out by the Italians in Mob action. It should be remembered that it was a mar on the Love Day that originated from Rome..

SUMMARY

There are several ways that Valentine's Day is celebrated. It was first a Roman Holiday.