What’s the Big Deal About Valentine’s?

Every year on Feb. 14, couples across the globe celebrate the day of love, also known as Valentine’s day. To prove their love for one another, couples race to buy candy, stuffed toys, and assorted flowers. Cash registers fill with crumpled bills, and pocket change emptying the store’s supply of sweets and goodies. While everyone tends to get in the spirit of Valentine’s day, many don’t truly know the history behind the holiday. One legend suggests the meaning of Valentine’s day, to be behind a man named St. Valentine.

Becoming the National Day of Love

In the third century Rome, St Valentine was a priest of a Catholic church. At the time the emperor ruling over Rome was Claudius II. While many under him followed his rule without question, St. Valentine had other ideas. With the Roman Army behind him, Claudius was unstoppable, expanding his empire, invasion after invasion. Though  Claudius’s Army was indeed powerful, he decided that like his empire, his Army needed to expand.

Claudius found that single unmarried men were best for his ruthless Army. In light of this, any marriage ceremony of any kind was to be illegal, and unlawful. This upset both men and women. When St. Valentine learned of this cruelty Claudius had cursed Rome with, he began to arrange secret weddings in efforts to keep “love” alive. He went on performing these weddings, until one day Claudius learned of St. Valentines disobedience. To show those under him that he was in fact in power, Claudius sentenced Valentine to be put to death.

Even though Valentine was put to death, every fourteenth of February his sacrifice for love is honored across the globe. While many people don’t truly know the meaning of Valentine’s day, it continues to be one of the most influential holidays celebrated today.