Since it is coming up, I thought I'd put in here an article that I found regarding Valentine's Day. I see no particular evil in it, unless you worship other gods and goddesses on this day. Our American version of giving cards, even though it is a manmade tradition, harbors a "love your neighbor" mentality. What are your comments on it?

Valentine's Day Origins

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday?

The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.

So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

After a little web surfing...

After a little web browsing, I came up with some sites that give a different view of old Roman god and goddess tradition involving February and March. Some such sites are:

http://www.techdirect.com/valentine/origin.html

http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/ValentinesDay/

http://people.howstuffworks.com/valentine1.htm

Roman Feast of Lupercalia - This ancient pagan fertility celebration, which honored Juno, queen of the Roman gods and goddesses and goddess of women and marriage, was held on February 14, the day before the feast began. During festival time, women would write love letters, also known as billets, and leave them in a large urn. The men of Rome would then draw a note from the urn and ardently pursue the woman who wrote the message they had chosen. (Apparently, the custom of lottery drawings to select valentines continued into the 18th century, coming to an end when people decided they'd rather choose -- sight seen! -- their valentines.)

The Birds and the Bees? - In the Middle Ages, people began to send love letters on Valentine's Day. Medieval Europeans believed that birds began to mate on February 14.

These are just a few of the sites that were listed. I, like many other people, am a hopeless romantic. I love to give cards, poetry, candy, flowers, and gifts. We can always show our affection for others in these ways, without participating in any pre-programmed "holiday". This information that I gave you today is to just get us to think about what other agendas may be out there. As Christians, we are still learning about many traditions of men, that surround us everywhere. May we strive to live for Him, love Him, love others and study to seek after the wisdom He gives freely. Hugs to all!

Saturday, January 17, 2004