The Legend of St. Valentine
Submitted by Julia Sayco
Whenever I think of the month of February, the first thing that comes to mind is always the day of love, or what most people like to refer to as Valentine’s Day. It’s a holiday celebrated on the 14th of February where loved ones exchange greetings and gifts and show acts of affection, sentiment, and love. Centering a youthful and innocent mindset, I personally found Valentine’s Day to be fun and exciting. While I would sometimes explore and pursue my love interests–whether that be my minor crushes or newly-developed hobbies–my Valentine’s Day was always spent appreciating the people I cared about the most. From pre-k to elementary, and from elementary to middle school, I intended to make Valentine’s Day memorable by handing out the best Valentine’s Day cards, flavorful candies, and incredibly thoughtful messages. It made me happy to know that this day was meant to not only show love to myself, but also to give back and love others.
The history of Valentine’s Day, and the story of its patron saint, Saint Valentine, is shrouded in mystery and wonder. But despite the unknown origins of the day of love and romance, we do know that it contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. Ironically, the story of this holiday is not all sunshine and rainbows. It reveals a darker meaning of the well-known celebration, while also highlighting the values of gratitude and goodness in life.
From a religious standpoint, the Catholic Church identifies and recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom are martyred. The legend begins with a priest named Valentine who served during the third century in Rome. During the time, Emperor Claudius II decided that unmarried or single men would make better soldiers than those with wives and families, in which he officially outlawed marriage for all young men. Valentine, in response to Emperor Claudius’s injustice of the decree, defied him by performing acts of service and love in secret to young lovers that desired to marry and complete their marriage vows. The secrecy behind Valentine’s actions were discovered by Claudius, in which the compassionate and warmhearted priest was put to death.
Like with any story, myth, and legend, many people hold different beliefs and interpretations. For instance, other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine had actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he had fallen in love with a young woman, who may have been the jailer’s daughter that consistently visited him throughout his confinement and moments of isolation and loneliness. Before Valentine’s death, it is alleged that he wrote his lover a letter signed, “From your Valentine”, which is an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind Saint Valentine is somewhat murky and undefined, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and most importantly, romantic figure.
While some believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death, which probably occurred around A.D. 270, others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February in an effort to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia.
Celebrated February 15th, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. In addition to the many sacrifices and traditions involved within Lupercalia, the idea of love and “match-making” continued to take place. According to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city’s bachelors would each choose a name and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage.
Despite the perspective of millennials and young lovers with the presence of traditional romantic values influencing society, the importance of appreciation and sacrifice should also be acknowledged. The story of St. Valentine signifies how essential love is for healthy mentalities and happy lives. One day, we can all share this legend to teach, educate, and learn from varying perspectives and the abundance and beauty of passion and love at its finest.
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