Saint Valentine's Day

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Happy Valentine's!
Commonly called Valentine's Day is an annual holiday held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. the holiday is named after a martyr named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD.

But do you know the story that started this popular hearts' day?

The early Medieval acta expounded in Legenda Aurea described St. Valentine persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had discussion with him, attempting to get him converted to Roman paganism in order to save his life.

Valentine refused and tried to covert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed. Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing the blind daughter of his jailer.

Legenda Aurea provided no connections whatsoever with sentimental love, appropriate lore has been embroidered in modern times to portray Valentine as a priest who refused an unattested law attributed to Roman Emperor Claudius II, allegedly ordering that young men remain single. The Emperor supposedly did this to grow his army, believing that married men did not make good soldiers.

The priest Valentine, however, secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young men.

When Claudius found out about this, he had Valentines arrested and thrown in jail.

In an embellishment to The Golden Legend provided by American Greetings, Inc. to History.com and widely repeated, on the evening before Valentines was to be executed, he wrote the first "valentine" himself, addressed to a young girl variously identified as his beloved, as the jailer's daughter whom he had befriended and healed, or both.

It was a note that read, "From your Valentine."

I personally do not find it romantic.

But no matter what your definition of romance is, it's all about the connection and the bond that you and your companion share. It's a reason to be celebrated not just merely on this special day, but everyday as it should be.

Happy Valentine's!