Bhubaneswar: Valentine’s Day is a festival of love and many people give cards, letters, flowers or presents to their spouse or partner. It is believed that Valentine’s Day is named after a Saint Valentine, who was a Catholic clergyman in Rome in the third century.
There are legends about him and his connection with the celebration. But the one theory which is most popular is the story we associate with the celebratory day in today’s age.
During his time, while many Romans converted to Christianity, the then Emperor Claudius II continued to be a pagan, and made strict rules about what Christians were and weren’t allowed to do.
He believed unmarried and single Roman men made better soldiers than those with wives and children. He issued a decree preventing young men from marrying, expecting them to only be devoted to and serve Rome.
It was during this period Saint Valentine emerged and began getting them married in secrecy. Christian ceremonies were held stealthily, and it earned him the reputation of a man who believes in the importance and Power of Love.
As his ceremonies became popular, the Saint was a sought-after person in Rome. The secret was revealed and he was imprisoned. During his time in jail, he cared for other prisoners, particularly for the jailer’s daughter, who was said to have been blind.
Legend has it that Saint Valentine cured her blindness and that it was his final act of kindness before his execution. He even wrote her a letter before his death, which was signed ‘from your Valentine’. The saint was executed on February 14, 270 AD.
Around 200 years later, when Rome turned Christian and Catholic churches got rid of all paganism, the day was marked and proclaimed as ‘Valentine’s Day’, as an honour in the memory of the great Saint.
