St. Valentine's Day - 10 Fascinating Facts About St. Valentine Himself.
St. Valentine's Day is a celebration of love and affection that is observed by millions of people around the world each year. While the holiday is widely recognized, the story of St. Valentine himself is less well-known. Here are 10 fascinating facts about the life of St. Valentine that you may not have heard before:
1. St. Valentine Was a Roman Priest
St. Valentine was a Roman priest who lived during the reign of Emperor Claudius II in the 3rd century AD. He is said to have been martyred for his Christian faith.
Love Quote:
"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." - Aristotle
2. Patron Saint of Love
St. Valentine is the patron saint of love, beekeepers, and epilepsy. He is often invoked by those seeking help in matters of the heart.
3. Valentine's Day Origin
The tradition of celebrating St. Valentine's Day on February 14th dates back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated from a Roman festival called Lupercalia.
4. Secretly Performing Marriages
One of the legends surrounding St. Valentine is that he secretly performed marriages for young couples against the orders of Emperor Claudius II, who had banned marriage for young men.
Love Quote:
"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." - Audrey Hepburn
5. Imprisonment and Miracles
St. Valentine was imprisoned for his actions and is said to have performed miracles while in captivity, including healing the jailer's daughter of blindness.
6. Symbol of Love
The tradition of sending Valentine's Day cards can be traced back to the 18th century in England. These cards often featured symbols of love such as hearts, doves, and Cupid.
7. Relics of St. Valentine
Relics of St. Valentine, including a flower-crowned skull, can be found in churches around the world. The Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland, claims to have the remains of St. Valentine.
Love Quote:
"In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities." - Janos Arnay
8. Different Martyrs Named Valentine
There were actually several martyrs named Valentine who were venerated by the Catholic Church. The most well-known is St. Valentine of Rome.
9. St. Valentine's Day Greetings
Esther Howland, known as the "Mother of the American Valentine," began mass-producing Valentine's Day cards in the 19th century. This helped popularize the tradition of exchanging cards on the holiday.
10. St. Valentine's Day Traditions
Today, St. Valentine's Day is celebrated with the exchange of gifts, cards, and romantic gestures. It is a day to show love and appreciation for those closest to us, albeit highly commercialised in recent times.
Who's your "Valentine" this year and what memories did you make/enjoy?
