THE ORIGIN OFVALENTINES DAY AND ITS LEGEND HISTORY

In every 14th day of February every year across the world, flowers and gifts are given and exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of st valentine.The history of valentines day is obscure and further clouded by various fanciful legends while some believe that valentines day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of valentine's death or burial.

   WHO WAS VALENTINE?

The catholic church recognizes at least three different saints named valentines or valentinus all of whom were martyred, one legend contends that valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome, when emperor Claudius 2 decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families. He outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine realising the injustice of the decree defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret, when valentine's actions were discovered Claudius ordered that he be out to death. 

The history of valentines day is obscure and further clouded  by various fanciful legends, some believe that valentines day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of valentine's death or burial which probably occurred around 270 AD. Others claim that the christian church may have decided to place the valentine feast in the middle of February in an effort to `christianize' the pagan celebration of Lupercalia which was a fertility festival. 

this festival was outlawed as it was deemed unchristian at the end of the 5th century when pope Gelasius declared February 14 st valentines day
. It was not until much later, however that the day became definitely associated with love.

during the middle ages it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds mating season which aided that valentines day should be a day of romance.

Other stories suggest that valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend an imprisoned valentine actually sent the first greetings himself after he fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement. Before his death it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed `from your valentine', an expression that is still in use today.although the truth behind valentines legend is murky. The stories all emphasise his appeal as a sympathetic heroic and most  importantly romantic figure.