Thursday 14 February 2013

Happy Valentine's Day!

Are you wearing RED today?
It's Saint Valentine's Day!
But who was Valentine?
He was a young priest who disobeyed Emperor Claudius in 270 AD by conducting illegitimate wedding ceremonies in Rome. The Emperor  claimed that married men made poor soldiers and consequently decreed that all marriages of young people would be outlawed. Bishop Valentine continued to conduct marriages in secret between young people, sometimes as young as twelve, in the name of love.
He was thrown in prison, but became friends with the jailer's daughter, and passed her a note which read "from your Valentine" before he was beheaded.
All over the world people are buying flowers, chocolates, and gifts for their loved ones, and sending cards that say "from your Valentine". Have a happy day!

8 comments:

  1. I never knew that!

    Beheading sounds a bit severe, but I guess the Empire was in a bit of a mess at that time...

    Happy Valentine's Day!

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  2. I never knew any of that...Very Very Interesting....Poor man! Beheading---How Harsh Is That?? What a terrible end for someone doing what he did, for LOVE!!!
    HAPPY VALENTINES DAY to you, my dear....Almost over here on the Pacific Coast!

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  3. The version you told is more interesting than the one I learned. I read that the priest Valentine tried to convert Emperor Claudius, and for that, he was beaten with clubs and stones until he was almost dead, and then they beheaded him.

    Nevertheless, Happy Valentine's Day!!

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  4. Thank you for telling us this sad tale that I really didn't know. Hope you enjoyed the day.
    Maggie x

    Nuts in May

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  5. Here's a link with just about everyhing you'd ever want to know about "St. Valentine" (dropped from the list of saints because there were so many)...

    http://mentalfloss.com/article/48938/saint-we-call-valentine

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  6. Fascinating and beheading is certainly a violent way to handle things.
    Anyway, a belated Happy Valentines Day to you Shammi.

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  7. How awful for that poor man! All he wanted to do was see young people happily married.
    I did not know this at all.
    Hugs

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