 We celebrate Valentine's Day, because
until 1969, it was one of the many Saint's Days observed by
the Catholic Church. It was dedicated to the patron saint
of romantic causes, St. Valentine.
Although it was removed from the Church's calendar in 1969,
the religious meaning coupled with Valentine's Day's roots in
Roman paganism have allowed it to continue as a holiday
for everyone.
Early Christians saw Valentine's Day as a way to honor St.
Valentine, of whom there were actually three. The Catholic
Church recognizes three saints by that name, all who were
martyred on February 14.
 The St. Valentine the day is named for
was, most likely, a priest in the 3rd century who performed
secret marriages when the Roman Emperor Claudius II thought
single soldiers were more likely to enlist in the army. That
St. Valentine was imprisoned and executed on February 4, 270.
It is believed he was responsible for giving the jailer's
blind daughter back her eyesight, and before his execution, he
sent her a note saying, "From your Valentine." The phrase is
still widely used on valentines today.
It wasn't until 1537 that St. Valentine's day was declared
an official holiday. England's King Henry VIII, known for his
ways of disposing of wives, declared February 14th a holiday.
It was another century and a half before religious devotional
cards became non-religious cards to reflect the change in the
holiday.
In 496 A.D., February 14, was declared in the name of St.
Valentine by Pope Gelasius. It remained a Church holiday until
1969, when Pope Paul VI took it from the calendar.
 On February 14, the ancient Romans
celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia in honor of Juno
, the queen of the Roman gods and goddesses. Juno was also
the goddess of women and marriage so honoring her was thought
to be a fertility rite.
At the feast held the next day, the women would write love
letters and stick them in a large urn. The men would pick a
letter from the urn and for the next year, pursue the woman
who wrote the chosen letter. This custom lasted until the
1700s when people decided their beloveds should be chosen by
sight, not luck. |
守护神
异教信仰
殉道
牧神节
罗马神话中的天后朱诺，主神Jupiter之妻，主司生育婚姻等 |
