Did you know that Valentines Day as we now call it is believed to have it's roots in ancient Roman culture?

Apparently there was at one time a festival called Lupercalia celebrated on the 15th day of February. It was a fertility rite to honor the Roman Gods Lupercus, Faunus and the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.

It was customary within this festival in which all the young (unattached) womens names were written on pieces of paper and placed into a pot or urn the day before the feast. Then the young eligible men would draw out the names. The couples would then spend the remainder of the feast together. According to historical accounts it was not uncommon for this to lead to lasting relationships.

During the time of Emperor Claudious II this celebration was marred by the declaration by the emperor that young men were not allowed to marry. Apparently Claudious II (aka Claudious The Cruel) had great difficulty acquiring enough soldiers to fight in his very unpopular wars. He blamed this shortage on the fact that so many of the young men of fighting age were married and reluctant to abandon their wives and children.

As the story goes, there was a Catholic Priest by the name of Valentine that felt this decree was unfair and secretly married couples. When the emperor discovered this he had Father Valentine imprisoned. He died during his incarceration.

There is however another story of a priest named Valentine who was also dies at the hands of the Roman Emperor. He is said to have fallen in love with his jailors daughter. The day before his execution he sent a note to his love. Signed from your Valentine. He was executed by order of the emperor, clubbed to death and beheaded on 14 February 269.

Historians differ on which was "Saint Valentine" and indeed they are uncertain these are not simply different accounts of the same Father Valentine.

Gives a whole new dimension to my bloody Valentine, don't you think?

Hugz, ya Tam