This special day is said to come from ancient Christian and Roman traditions.
It is believed that the first Valentine lived around 270AD in Rome. When Claudius became emperor of Rome he believed married men were too emotionally attached to their family to make good soldiers. With this in mind, he decreed that soldiers could not marry. By doing this he believed he would be assured of having a better army.
This came as a terrible shock to the Romans but they feared the power of Emperor Claudius. However, the kindly Bishop Valentine, Bishop of Terni, also realised the unfairness of this decree. He saw the trauma of young lovers never to be united in marriage and planned to oppose the emperor’s orders in secret.
So, when soldiers wanted to be married they would go to Bishop Valentine and he would marry them. Unfortunately, it was not long before Claudius found out about this “Friend of Lovers” as he was known and had him arrested and subsequently executed on 14th February 270AD.
Bishop Valentine, Bishop of Terni, Friend of Lovers
Young Romans observed this day annually, giving handwritten greetings of love showing their affections. Valentine became the Patron Saint of lovers and was celebrated on the 14th February each year all over the world and still is today.
Attention Men! Don’t suffer the WRATH of a disgruntled woman this Valentine’s Day!
Men, it is time to step it up, cancel that standing order at the florist, think outside the heart-shaped box and get that special woman in your life something she’ll really love.
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