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February 14th, a day for lovers and would be lovers. A day when we give flowers, chocolate and send a Valentine's Card to  a lover or to somebody who we wish to be a lover. Valentine's Day is a day when we remember who we are in love with and show it with a nice candlelight dinner. Valentine's Day is a very special day and it has been set aside to honor "LOVE". This beautiful, romantic tradition has been passed on through time since 496 A.D., when Pope Gelasius set aside February 14th to honor Saint Valentine. Valentine's Day, named after Valentine, but who really was "Valentine?" Well, there are several different stories, depending which version you read or belief.  Valentine: a bishop from Terni who was martyred in Rome, or Valentine: a priest who in secret married couples defying the law of Emperor Claudius who temporarily forbid marriage to gain more solders, or Valentine: a Roman priest who was martyred during the persecution of Emperor Claudius around 269 or 270 A. D., or Valentine: who was imprisoned for not worshipping pagan gods. He made friends with the jailers daughter during his imprisonment. The saying goes that he cured her through his prayers on his execution day (Feb. 14th),  and his note to the jailers daughter was signed: "Your Valentine", or  Valentine: a young, non-Christian man, helped Christians during Claudius' persecution. Later he got jailed and became a Christian, for this he was clubbed to death  on February 14th, 269 A.D. During his prison term he supposed to have send messages to friends saying: "Remember Your Valentine" and "I Love You". We know as a fact that Emperor Claudius II, also known as Claudius the Cruel, has been engaged in many very bloody and  unpopular wars and he had difficulties recruiting new soldiers. To overcome this handicap, he cancelled all engagements and marriages in the belief that if men could not marry they would join his army. Another fact is, that February 14th was set aside by Pope Gelasius as a special day to remember Saint Valentine. This was one day before the pagan love festival, a Roman feast of Lupercalia. Pope Gelasius, who wanted to stop the pagan festival, changed Lupercalia to February 14th, from February 15th. The church, realizing that there is nothing wrong with celebrating love, but had difficulties accepting the pagan elements, which insulted God. The change resulted in the elimination of Lupercalia, and Valentine became known as the patron of lovers, celebrated on February 14th known as Saint Valentine's Day. One part of the Roman festival of Lupercalia was name drawing. The names of girl's were written on pieces of paper and placed in jars. Every young man would draw a name from the jar and they would be partners for the duration of the festival. Sometimes the pairing lasted an entire year, and quite often they would fall in love and later marry. A similar custom began in the 14th century, to correspond with the belief of the springtime mating of birds, it took place on February 14th, Valentine's Day. A girl was chosen for a day by lot. Messages sent between these couples was the beginning of the modern Valentine's Day Card. Special printed cards for Valentine's became more common in the 1780's. These cards become very popular in Germany, they named them "Freundschaftskarten", or "friendship cards". Lupercalia: In the early days of Rome, fierce wolves roamed the nearby woods. The Romans called upon one of their gods, Lupercus, to keep the wolves away. A festival was held in honor of Lupercus, which was celebrated on February 15th. The festival was celebrated as a spring festival. The Roman calendar was different at that time, with February falling in early spring time. Link to other Valentine Site: Send Free Online Greeting Cards to your friends & loved ones. ALL cards are absolutely FREE !!! http://www.123greetings.com/events/valentines_day/

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Revised: December 30, 2007 .