So, my kids have asked about the ’story’ behind Valentine’s Day and, I have to admit, I don’t really remember all the details.  I am not even sure if I ever heard all the details myself.  I recall that it had something to do with commemorating the martyrdom of Valentine… but how that ties with love I wasn’t so sure.

Fortunately, my job as ‘Dad’ has been made easier by the internet… I haven’t a clue how my parents came up with the answers to all my questions.  (Now that I think about it, I don’t think my dad was right when he said the dinosaurs became extinct because they didn’t eat their veggies… he sure could have used wikipedia and google!)

Back to Valentine’s Day.. I discovered the story behind Valentine’s Day has a few twists and turns and a lot of mystery.  No one seems to know the full story.  Here is what I uncovered:

• there were actually many St. Valentines - for example, the Catholic Church recognized 11 different Valentine’s Days up until 1969
• two St. Valentines were honored on February 14 - Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni
• both of these Valentines suffered Christian martyrdom under Roman rule - Valentine of Terni in 197 and Valentine of Rome in 269
• Bede, the Benedictine monk and historian from Northumbria in the late 7th and early 8th centuries, wrote of St. Valentine - Valentine was interrogated personally by Roman Emperor Claudius II where the Emperor tried to get Valentine to embrace Roman paganism.  Valentine did his best to convince the Emperor to accept Christ.  Unfortunately the Emperor wasn’t convinced and had Valentine executed.
• over time the distinction between the two Valentines was lost

But my kids still wanted to know where the love and romance comes in, not to mention the red hearts filled with chocolates! So I dug a bit further and came across a legend that ties closely to the description Bede gave about Valentine.

“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.”

source: History.com

Ah… the love, the romance… but still no boxed chocolates!

To learn more about Valentine’s Day visit the following links…  And if you happen to come across the history of the heart-shaped box of chocolates, update me by posting a comment below.

Thanks… and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Wikipedia - Valentine’s Day

History.com - Valentine’s Day

Christianity Today - Valentine’s Day

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