Who is Saint Valentine?
The history of the holiday begins with the Christian saint Valentine, who lived in the 3rd century in the Roman Empire. However, historians still argue about who he really was. According to one legend, Valentine was a priest who secretly married couples in love, despite the ban of Emperor Claudius II. The emperor believed that married men served worse in the army, so he banned marriages among young soldiers. When Valentine was exposed, he was executed on February 14. According to another legend, before his death, he wrote a farewell letter to the girl who supported him, signing it with the words "Your Valentine" - this is where the tradition of writing love notes came from. Interestingly, Valentine's Day was not celebrated immediately. In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church included this day in the calendar, but the holiday remained religious for a long time. But it acquired a romantic connotation only in the Middle Ages, thanks to poets and knights. It was then that the tradition of giving flowers, poems and small gifts to lovers arose. In the 18th century, the holiday became especially popular in England and France. People began sending each other "valentines" - hand-made cards with declarations of love. Moreover, they were decorated with lace, hearts and drawings. Today, this holiday is celebrated almost all over the world, but each country has its own characteristics. In Japan, for example, girls give chocolate to men, and a month later, on March 14, men respond with gifts. In Finland, February 14 is called "Friends' Day" and is dedicated not only to romantic love, but also to friendship. And although there are some mysteries and legends in the history of the holiday, this does not prevent it from remaining one of the most beloved and warm days of the year.
With love, Maria .