Happy Valentine's Day everyone! There are those that say Valentine's Day is a made up holiday to get people to buy greeting cards, candies and flowers, etc. It's also traditional to take your Valentine out to a nice dinner...and guess what...most of the restaurants have a special Valentine's Day menu (with jacked-up prices)! Here's a little hint: it's better to go to dinner the night before or the night after. You won't have such a hard time getting reservations and you will have the regular menu not the inflated holiday menu. Tell me what you think; is Valentine's Day a legitimate holiday or a made up one?
There was an ancient pagan festival held in mid February called Lupercalia and celebrated in Rome. This was a sexually-charged ceremony and involved animal sacrifices, and match making in hopes of warding off evil spirits. Often these couples would stay together a whole year till the next festival and many times ended in marriage.
Legend also has it that in ancient Rome a man named Valentine was executed for secretly performing marriage ceremonies for Christians and trying to convert Emperor Claudius II to Christianity.The Emperor had him beheaded.
Later the Catholic Church proclaimed Valentine a saint and Roman Martyrology lists him as being martyred on February 14th. That's where Saint Valentine came from.
What ever you believe about Valentine's Day I hope you enjoy it and celebrate it anyway you choose. Please leave your comments.
