Valentines Day Weddings!!

Yes! We actually have TWO weddings scheduled for Valentine's Day! One is actually the winner of the contest that I had been running on this blog. But, for this entry, I wonder how many people actually know the History of Valentines Day???

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine! But, who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentines Day - and it's patron saint - is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been the month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, has both Christian and Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentius, all of whom were martyred.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl - who may have been his jailor's daughter- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed. "From your Valentine", an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legend is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial - which probably occurred around 270 A.D. - others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentin's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to "Christianize" celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival.

During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of bird's mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February - Valentines Day - should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.

In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Greetings Americans probably began exchanging handmade valentines in the early 1700's. Esther A. Howland began to see the first mass-produced valentines in America.

Imagine that!!!! I personally have a small collection of antique valentines postcards, I love them. Do you have any, do you save your valentines?