Every February people the world over celebrate Valentine’s Day by giving flowers, candy and cards to those they love. They do this in honour of Saint Valentine. Who is Saint Valentine? It is believed that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. At that time there was an emperor by the name of Claudius 2. Under the rule of Emperor Claudius 2, Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular wars. Claudius the cruel, as he was called, was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his army. Emperor Claudius 2 decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he declared that marriage was forbidden for the people of Rome. Priest Valentine was entirely opposed to this unjust and unfair law. He decided to help young lovers and secretly performed marriage ceremonies for couples. Imagine he did this in a small candle lit room with only the bride and groom and the priest himself. They would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers. Perhaps one night, unfortunately, they were caught and Valentine was condemned to death. He was thrown into jail. While in jail, many young people came to visit Valentine. They threw flowers and notes up to his window. They wanted him to know that they took believed in love. One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit him in the cell. She helped to cheer him up, and they would often talk for hours. On the day he was to die, Valentine left his young friend a note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. He signed it, ‘Love from your Valentine.’ He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. More than 200 years after Valentine’s death, Pope Gelasius decided to honour Saint Valentine on 14th February. Gradually, young lovers began exchanging love messages and Saint Valentine became the Saint of lovers.
