Valentine's Day - the vanish of the tradition

It is amazing to know how people celebrate Valentine's (just as in the case of Christmas) without even knowing the true story of it all.

But then again, how many of us do care? As long as we know it's a time for the sharing of love to one another, and the dedication of our heartfelt thanks to our loved ones. No? So what is Valentine's all about? Is it just about exchanging gifts with one another at your school or workplace, only to find out that what you give out is more than what you get returned?

Thanks to the trusty Internet, I managed to source out the story.

Legend has it that the holiday became Valentine's Day after a priest named Valentine. Valentine was a priest in Rome at the time Christianity was a new religion. The Emperor at that time, Claudius II, ordered the Roman soldiers NOT to marry or become engaged. Claudius believed that as married men, his soldiers would want to stay home with their families rather than fight his wars. Valentine defied the Emperor's decree and secretly married the young couples. He was eventually arrested, imprisoned, and put to death.

Valentine was beheaded on February 14th, the eve of the Roman holiday Lupercalia. After his death, Valentine was named a saint. As Rome became more Christian, the priests moved the spring holiday from the 15th of February to the 14th - Valentine's Day.

Yes and that's how it all began. Betcha' didn't know.

Of course, what followed after the pronounced death of the early ages of civilisation; was the perpetual death of our lovely days of courtly love, as compared to the modern notion of love as romantic love, "greek-ly" known as eros.

As to honor the Greek tradition of St. Valentine's; I hereby abstain myself from any Valentine's Day celebrations.

For the next month.