Why do People Celebrate St. Valentine's Day?

Why do People Celebrate St. Valentine's Day?

Tuesday 14th February 2006 is St Valentine's Day. This is traditionally the day when lovers exchange notes confirming their

love for one another. unique Valentine symbols are often either heart shaped or cupids.

Valentine's Day started life as a Catholic feast day in honour of Saint Valentine. However, it's not known exactly who Saint Valentine was. According to the Catholic Encyclopaedia of 1908 there are at least three possible candidates for the dwelling.

The first was a Christian priest in Rome how was martyred in the second half of the 3rd century. The second was a bishop of Interamna - the recent day Terni - who, like the priest was martyred and is buried approach to but not in exactly the same area as the first. The third was a North African martyr about whom nothing else is known.

The romantic associations with Valentine began in the Middle Ages at which time the idea of romantic like became widely popular. This connection is not mentioned in any early histories and is regarded by secular historians as purely a matter of chronicle.

The feast of St. Valentine was first declared to be on February 14 by Pope Gelasius I in 496. There is a widespread tale that he created the day to counter the practice held on Lupercalia of young men and women pairing off as lovers by drawing their names out of an urn, but this practice is not attested in any sources from that era.

Valentine's Day probably reached North America in the 19th century with the arrival of settlers from Britain. Gradually Valentine's Day has changed, like most other festivals and celebrations, from a pagan to a religious to a secular event.

The custom of giving a valentine gradually evolved into a multi-million dollar industry starting with the mass production of embossed paper lace valentines. By the second half of the 20th century people began giving gifts as well as cards to their loved ones. These gifts included red roses and chocolates and by about 1980 jewellers began promoting diamonds as an appropriate gift for the occasion.

Here in Devon there are many places to bask in with your loved one. It's the perfect space to visit for a romantic weekend - why not visit one of the generous hotels or bed and breakfast properties or relish a meal at one of the many restaurants.