Get Your H.A.T.

Although everyone thinks Valentine’s Day started off romantic, it did not. The origin of Valentine’s Day is unclear, there are a few different ways it may have began, taking place in Rome. It was possibly in the third century, Saint Valentine along with another man preached on the streets. Saint Valentine did not stop, and was therefore, beheaded by ancient Roman pagans on February 14th.

Another possibility is that when Emperor Clausius II outlawed marriages, after realizing soldiers without families would make better soldiers, due to having a family to be attached to, Valentine defied that law. Knowing he could be punished, but believing that law was inquest, he still performed marriages, in secret. Eventually, this was discovered, and the Emperor ordered that Valentine be killed. So he was beheaded, outside of Rome.

Geoffrey Chaucer, an English medieval poet, wrote the poem “Parliament of Foules,” which is the first written connection between love and Valentine’s Day. He may have simply invented the connection between the two. Shortly after Mr. Chaucer wrote the poem, lovers began to send each other love poems on February 14th. Valentine’s Day has become very popular across the world in more recent years. Although Valentine’s Day is illegal in Saudi Arabia, there is a thriving black market for red roses and heart-shaped chocolates in February.

Cupid is often portrayed as Valentine’s day ‘mascot.’ People say that he shoots arrows of love at unsuspecting lovers. But, he is based off of a Roman god named Cupid, who has his roots in Greek mythology as the ‘Greek god of love, Eros.’ Over the years, people started placing him in the Valentine’s Day celebration.

Even though Valentine’s Day didn’t have a romantic or clear origin, it is still a great time for lovers to celebrate their love for each other by exchanging gifts.

Each year people receive chocolates, cards, flowers, jewelry, stuffed animals or balloons. It is a day to show your love for you’re mother, father, siblings, grandparents, husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, or anyone else in your circle. Often, people go on dates, get engaged, or get married on that day.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7