Every year on February 14, people exchange gifts.
The Roman feast known as "Lupercalia" is the source of the romantic event that we now call Valentine's Day, which dates back to the fifth century and was named after a Christian martyr.
The celebration of Lupercalia was held in honour of the mythological founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, as well as the gods Lepercus and Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture.
Valentine, also called Valentinus, was a priest and a bishop of the church near Rome around the year 270 A.D. According to Roman Catholic church tradition and RT Bishop Osei-Bonsu, 2004 (Catholic Traditions and Believes), marriage was prohibited at the time by a decree issued by the Roman Emperor Claudius II.
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With its current army, the Roman empire was too big to be protected from both internal unrest and exterior assault. As a result, more competent men needed to be enlisted as leaders and soldiers.
Claudius believed that married men would not be good fighters because they were more emotionally devoted to their families.
He forbade marriage in order to ensure the quality of his army members.
A bishop named Valentine or Valentinus visited young lovers and performed the sacrament of holy matrimony after seeing their suffering.
On February 24, 270 A.D., Emperor Claudius found this "friend of lovers," "Valentine or Valentinus," and had him arrested and put to death.
Valentine met Asterius, his jailer, while he was incarcerated awaiting execution.
In order to heal his blind daughter, the jailer looked for Valentinus or Valentine.
His daughter miraculously regained her sight because of his faith.
In order to bid farewell to Asterius' daughter, Valentine, also known as Valentinus, requested his jailer
Asterius for a pen and signed "from your Valentine" before being executed.
This expression has continued ever since. Valentine, therefore, became the patron saint of lovers and the spiritual leader of the Lepercus and Faunus feast that was celebrated every year.
On February 14, the young Romans participated in the celebrations by presenting handwritten love letters to women they adored and wanted to court. The name of Saint Valentine or Valentinus appears on the greeting cards.
Pope Gerasius proclaimed February 14 "Saint Valentine's Day" in 489 A.D. to commemorate the martyr Valentinus, also known as Valentine, and to put an end to the pagan festival.
Valentine's Day is now a highly popular holiday in modern society. Starting with couples writing "Valentine" messages to their sweethearts, now there is the mass production of greeting cards.
Now, "Valentine's Day" has come to represent love in general, rather than just romantic love.
Teachers, parents, friends, siblings, and sweethearts are all recipients of "Valentine's Day" cards these days.
Emmanuel Dei Nuamah,
E-mail: u16269382@tuks.co.za
