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February 14th is celebrated as Valentine’s Day across the world, including India. It’s celebrated as the day of love. A large number of people express their love on this day, exchanging gifts and cards. However, if we look at history, Valentine’s Day has a rather tragic origin. A cruel Roman emperor executed Priest Valentine, who preached the message of love, and the tradition of celebrating Valentine’s Day began in his memory. Let’s explore this story.
What is the story of Valentine’s Day?
Indeed, February 14th is celebrated as Valentine’s Day. Its celebration has its own story. It is said that in the third century, when a cruel Roman emperor oppressed lovers, Priest Valentine defied the emperor’s orders and preached the message of love. Therefore, he was imprisoned and hanged. The tradition of celebrating Valentine’s Day on February 14th began every year in memory of this saint who sacrificed his life for love.
Why did the king execute St. Valentine?
Actually, Roman Emperor Claudius II had banned marriages in his empire. The king needed an army and believed that unmarried soldiers would prove to be better warriors than married ones. The people were deeply saddened by this order. However, St. Valentine believed that love was a gift from God. So, he began arranging marriages for lovers. He encouraged people to disobey the king’s orders. When the king learned of this, he imprisoned St. Valentine and executed him on February 14, 269 AD.
When did Valentine’s Day begin?
The celebration of Valentine’s Day began in the late 5th century. Pope Gelasius I established February 14th as a feast day in honor of St. Valentine. Experts also suggest that Valentine’s Day was started to replace the older Roman tradition of “Lupercoraria.” Valentine became associated with love through the poems of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century.
