Valentines Day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and since the Groundhog saw his shadow on the 2nd, there’s a good chance we’ll have some warm weather!

Valentine’s Day is seen by many as a “fake holiday” but I disagree. Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate all kinds of love--familial, romantic, and friendship--and surprise your loved ones with something special. Plus, all the discount candy in the stores after the big day is something nice to treat yourself to, because after all, self-love is the most important kind of love.

Many of you may know the legend of St. Valentine from way back in elementary school, but for those of you who don’t, St. Valentine was a priest in the Catholic Church who lived in the third century CE in Rome. One telling of this legend claims that Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men because he thought unwed men without families would make better soldiers than those who had married and had children. Valentine however continued to perform marriage ceremonies in secret because he (rightfully) thought the law was ridiculous. He was sent to death for his actions.

Another legend associated with St. Valentine was that he was imprisoned because he helped other Christians escape Roman prisons and fell in love with a girl that often visited him in his cell. Before he was put to death he sent out a card signed “from your Valentine”--the first Valentine’s card.