14th February 2008

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

A day to celebrate love, not just amongst husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends ... but think of it as a day we re-celebrate our love for our families and friends :-)

Cheers from Indianapolis!
Jules

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A bit of research from Wikipedia indicates that ...

Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14.
In North America, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

HISTORY
Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine.
Until 1969, the Catholic Church formally recognized eleven Valentine's Days. The Valentines honored on February 14 are:
Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae): a priest in Rome who suffered martyrdom about AD 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. His relics are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome. and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.
Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae): He became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been killed during the persecution of Emperor Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino).

AND, there is even an entry on AntiValentism ...

Valentine’s Day has been dubbed as a “Hallmark holiday” because of the millions of valentines exchanged each Valentines Day and a large portion of these cards that are purchased are Hallmark cards. Many companies and businesses make large profits from selling massive amounts of cards, flowers, chocolates, candies, stuffed animals etc. Many people believe this takes away from the values, significance and meaning of Valentines Day.