The origin and meaning of Valentine’s Day 14/2

Let’s find out the origin of Valentine’s Day and how different countries are on Valentine’s Day

Who is Saint Valentine?

There have been many Christian martyrs named Valentine. The two Valentines who had the honor of being martyred on February 14 were Valentine of Rome (Valentinus press. M. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis. M. Romae).

Valentine of Rome was a priest in Rome who was martyred around 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. His remains are now housed in the church of Saint Praxed in Rome, and the Carmelite Whitefriar church, in Dublin, Ireland.

Valentine of Terni became bishop of Interamna (present-day Terni) around 197 and is believed to have been martyred during the persecution under the emperor Aurelian. He was also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Rome’s Valentine. His remains are now located in the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino).

In 1969, in the revision of the All Saints Calendar, the feast of Saint Valentine on February 14 was taken out of the General Calendar and placed in a special category (local or even national calendar).

Origin of Valentine’s Day

Saint Valentine of Terni and the Apostles, a painting by Richard de Montbaston of France in the 14th century

Valentine was a priest under the Roman Emperor Claudius II. At that time, in the 3rd century, the Roman Empire had to participate in many bloody wars and was not supported by the people.

Because of the difficulty in getting young men to join the army, Claudius II suggested that the main reason was that Roman men did not want to leave their families or lovers and that marriage only made men weak. soft; therefore, Claudius II banned weddings or engagements in order to focus on wars.

The priest Valentine of Rome, together with Saint Marius, resisted the decree of the powerful emperor and continued to celebrate the wedding of young couples in secret. When discovered, Father Valentine was arrested and sentenced to death by dragging and stoned to death.

The evening before his execution, he sent the first “Valentine’s card” to the daughter of the jailer Asterius, a young woman born blind who had been miraculously healed by him before, and signed “dal” Vostro Valentino” – from your Valentine. Until now, couples still have a tradition of signing their names with the old phrase “From your Valentine” instead of their own names on Valentine’s cards.

Gradually, February 14 every year became the day for exchanging messages of love and Saint Valentine became the patron saint of couples. People celebrate this day by sending each other poems and giving each other the traditional gifts of roses and chocolates.

Valentine’s Day in different countries

According to the U.S. The American Greeting Card Association, each year more than 1 billion Valentine’s cards are handed over on this holiday around the world, ranked only after Christmas. The organization estimates that about 85% of Valentine’s card buyers are women.

In elementary schools in North America, teachers often let students make handmade Valentine’s cards for their classmates, which they cut and color by themselves that reflect what they love. They appreciate each of their friends of the opposite sex in the class.

The British and French have celebrated this ceremony since the Middle Ages, but it was in the 17th century that the practice of giving handmade cards to lovers became popular. 

In Japan, many female employees are obligated to give chocolates, candies, and fruits to male colleagues. This custom is called giri-choko; giri means “duty”, and choko is chocolate. Exactly one month later, on March 14, which is White Day, men are obliged to give gifts back to female colleagues who have taken care of them on Valentine’s Day, these gifts are usually white…

In Iran, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and some Muslim countries, it is forbidden to celebrate, celebrate and sell Valentine’s Day gifts, including red roses, because they consider Valentine’s Day to be a promotion. encourage extramarital relations, should be banned “in order to prevent the spread of Western culture”.

In Brazil, Dia dos Namorados (Lovers’ Day) is celebrated on June 12.

Meanwhile, in China and some Asian countries, the traditional day of love is the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, also known as “The Seventh Day”.

What do roses mean on February 14?

The rose has been a symbol of love since the 1700s, when Emperor Charles II of Sweden brought the poetic art of Persia, known as the language of flowers, to Europe.

During the eighteenth century, women who loved beautiful words painted the brilliant beauty of blooming flowers. Each flower carries many different messages and meanings about a colorful life.

Of all the flowers, crimson roses captivated the heart of the goddess of love Venus of Rome. Since then, valentines flowers have been the embodiment of a couple’s love.

Read more at:

• Top meaningful and unique Valentine’s gift on February 14.
• Top 13 unique and impressive valentine’s gift for boyfriends.

Conclusion

Have fun and be happy on Valentine’s Day with your lover or friends. Mazeshirt wishes you a meaningful day out.