History of Valentines Day

St.Valentine is considered to be the patron saint of lovers all over the world and there are many legends which denote how Valentines Day came into being. According to one legend, Claudius II the Emperor of Rome felt that single men made better soldiers and forbade marriages for young men. St Valentine who secretly married these young couples earned the wrath of Claudius II. He was sentenced to be beaten to death and to have his head cut off.

Another legend says that St.Valentine sent the first valentine greeting, he fell in love with the jailors daughter and on his farewell note to her, he wrote “From your Valentine” an expression which is still used today. There are also beliefs that Valentines Day was celebrated by the church in February to Christianize the pagan festival of Lupercalia celebrated around the same time. During the festival of Lupercalia each young man would draw out a girls name from a jar and they would be together for the rest of the Festival which often led to the couples getting married.

Around the seventeen century Valentines Day began to be celebrated in Great Britain and by the next century people were exchanging handwritten notes with their friends and lovers. By the end of the eighteenth century printed cards were available and the popularity of Valentines Day greetings was increasing rapidly. The first valentine day card is said have been send by Charles Duke of Orleans to his wife when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

In the United States printed cards were introduced by Ester A Howland in 1840 and has this has increased so much in popularity that Valentines Day is the second largest card sending holiday after Christmas. Valentines Day is a great way to celebrate love and shower affection, be it on your lover, friend, teacher or parents. It is no longer limited to giving out cards and has advanced to exchange of candy and flowers.