Saint Valentine!!

I decided i'd do a little research on the history behind the now severly commercialized 'event' that is Valentine's Day. There are many different versions of the story but It was interesting [...or was it?] to find that the history had much of nothing to do with love.

This is the only one found that is remotely romantic:

"St. Valentine's Story
Let me introduce myself. My name is Valentine. I lived in Rome during the third century. That was long, long ago! At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. I didn't like Emperor Claudius, and I wasn't the only one! A lot of people shared my feelings.
Claudius wanted to have a big army. He expected men to volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to fight in wars. They did not want to leave their wives and families. As you might have guessed, not many men signed up. This made Claudius furious. So what happened? He had a crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was cruel. I thought it was preposterous! I certainly wasn't going to support that law!
Did I mention that I was a priest? One of my favourite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, I kept on performing marriage ceremonies -- secretly, of course. It was really quite exciting. Imagine a small candlelit room with only the bride and groom and myself. We would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers.
One night, we did hear footsteps. It was scary! Thank goodness the couple I was marrying escaped in time. I was caught. (Not quite as light on my feet as I used to be, I guess.) I was thrown in jail and told that my punishment was death.
I tried to stay cheerful. And do you know what? Wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love.
One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit me in the cell. Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, "Love from your Valentine."
I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh -- because they know that love can't be beaten!"

So how did it become so widely popular?

"In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.
Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.
In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's and now the date is very commercialised. The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business around February 14. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school."

Hmmmm what a big sham!! Wonder what else we have been made to believe. What other stories have changed their meaning through the years? I’d imagine everything!! I can’t help but wonder about Christianity and what is real and isn’t real. What is the truth? Guess we shall have to wait till the end to see who is right ey? In the meantime ‘…that which does not condemn you, to you it is not sin’ [can’t remember the exact scripture or verse]. I digress...

I don't know why people make a big fuss about this day. Why do people get giddy about it? Why do people feel depressed? Why do people fight it? Why do people fight because of it? On the one hand i agree that no one should wait till feb 14th before they show love to a SO but at the same time will it kill you TO show love on that day in the name of not conforming to societal campaigns? Live and be merry, i say!! Women need not rest their emotional stability on this day and men need not feel pressure to show 'love.' All the people campaigning for or against should STHU!!

I think my SO and i will resolve not to get crazy about this day or any other day for that matter...be it bdays/xmas/anniversaries etc. As long as it is acknowledged in someway no grand gestures are necessary...i'm very easy to please.

Happy Lover's day, Bloggy!

*Muah*