Be My Valentine

Often wonder how Valentine's Day came about? It's one of the most romantic stories that truly deserves a very special day. According to stories, Valentine was a priest during the third century in Rome. The emperor at that time decided that single men made better soldiers and began to outlaw marriage for young men. Valentine on the other hand realized the injustice began performing marriages for young couples. When his actions were discovered he was then put to prison but soon fell in love with the jailor's daughter. He was deemed as the first person to ever write a valentine greeting, which he signed From Your Valentine, an expression that lasted throughout centuries.

But why February? February was traditionally a time of celebration in honor of the
god of fertility and sensual pleasure called the Lupercian festival. It was a time to meet and court prospective mates. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius forbid the pagan festival and christianized it by replacing a saint for lovers. Hence, the martyred Bishop Valentine was chosen.