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History of Valentines Day

The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is somewhat shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance, and the association of the middle of February with love and fertility dates back to ancient times. On the ancient Athens calendar, the period between mid-January and mid-February was the month of Gamelion, dedicated to the sacred marriage of Zeus and Hera and the festival of the Roman goddess Juno, depicted as a rather severe beauty was celebrated on February 13-14.

In Norway,Vali is god of eternal light, and as beams of light were often called arrows, he is always represented and worshipped as an archer. His time falls between the mid-January and mid-February, and the early Christians in efforts to stop the Germanic tribes from celebrating their rituals, dedicated this month to St. Valentine, who was also a skillful archer, and was said, like Vali, to be the harbinger of brighter days, the awakener of tender sentiments, and the patron of all lovers. Hence, no doubt, where cupid enters the story.

So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with these ancient rites?

Historically there are two Valentines, both martyrs, who might be the origin of the Saint Valentine legends. Unfortunately I can’t figure out which ones they are. The name Valentine was common among Christians in early and medieval times. There is Valentinius of Alexandria (100 –153AD?) and another is known as Valentine, the tribune of Rome (270 A.D.?) There’s also the Valentine who was an archer, mentioned above.

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The second one, (A.D. 270 in Rome), was a bishop who secretly married young couples, despite the current emperor's edict forbidding marriage. Valentine's refusal to renounce Christianity led to his execution on February 14. Legend has it that while in prison awaiting his fate; Valentine fell in love with the daughter of the jailer and signed his farewell message to her: "From Your Valentine."

Secondly there is mentioned a Valentine, bishop of Terni. And then there is Valentine of Genoa, who was an early bishop in Italy who died around AD 307. Valentine, first Bishop of Genoa, had his Saint’s day on May 3rd. This time period was associated with many springtime "love" activities - going back to pre-Christian Rome.

The pope declared in 496 that the feast of Saint Valentine would be on February 14. Now I’m still confused, because I don’t know which Saint Valentine this was, but if the genoan Valentine had his day on May 3rd, we might perhaps assume that it’s the Roman tribune Valentine. In 1969 when the Church pared down the number of saint days of purely legendary origin, St. Valentine’s Day was removed as an official holiday from its calendar. So I guess it doesn’t matter. February 14 is now dedicated only to Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius.

History of St Valentine Continued