What You Didn’t Know…

Valentine’s Day

Love is in the air during the month of February. There are three types of people during this time of the year in America. The ones who are looking for a special gift for their significant other. Then there are those sad and trying to get a date for this holiday, and then there are those happy and celebrating their singlehood. However, what all of these three people are unaware is that Valentine’s Day is originally a Christian holiday and has nothing to do with having a date. Saint Valentinus from Rome was a Christian minister (Saint) who was known for performing weddings for soldiers whom were forbidden to marry, as well as comforting Christians who were being mistreated by the Roman empire. He was caught and of course put in prison for doing so. It is said that he healed the judge’s daughter of blindness and after doing so he wrote her a love letter and signed it “Your Valentine.” As the Romans did to many Christians, unfortunately, St. Valentine was martyred. His day of death was February 14, Year 269. In year 496 (A.D.), Pope Gelasius, I started the holiday Saint Valentine’s Day to not only celebrate this man who was a martyr for Christ, but to celebrate all of the Christians who chose Christ over saving their own life. It was originally called the Feast of Saint Valentine. In certain countries, Christians still celebrate this holiday in its original form.  It wasn’t until the 1700s in England that Valentine’s Day became a “couple’s holiday.” All greeting cards (Valentines) were hand-written in honor of the love letter St. Valentine wrote to the judge’s daughter. Of course, now, just like all holidays Americans celebrate, it has changed drastically from its origins. So, if you are single and wishing you had a date on Valentine’s Day, simply see this holiday, not as a day to celebrate love, but a day to celebrate loyalty to Jesus, because that is its original meaning.