The history of Valentine's Day and its ubiquitous celebration

Many still remember that in the Soviet Union, the day dedicated to St. Valentine was not the same as sex. This holiday appeared in our country with the fall of the Soviet Union, and at the same time with it the iron curtain. Then many European traditions came to us, about which our fathers and grandfathers did not even hear anything. Colorful "valentines" were one of many such Western European innovations. What is this holiday, who is this Valentine and what is the history of Valentine's Day?

Of course, this holiday is dedicated to the saint, but he is a purely secular, that is, a secular holiday. Valentine's Day, like the New Year, is celebrated in many countries of the world, far from Christianity, and it is very beloved even by atheists. In some countries, the celebration of this day is highly encouraged by the state (primarily in the US and Britain), while in others it is being persecuted (Iran, Saudi Arabia). The Catholic Church included St. Valentine in her saints and marks his day on February 14, the Orthodox Church, just like Islam, believes that loving neighbors should always be, and not on some strictly defined day. Such disagreements in the treatment of the holiday arose because of various legends, from which the history of Valentine's Day begins.

Historical sources give us very scant information about this man, who was later proclaimed a saint. It is known only that Valentin was born in the second half of the III century. And was a priest in the city of Terni in the time of Claudius II, who was then a Roman emperor. Then the story stops and the legends begin. According to one of them, the story of Valentine 's Day began when the emperor felt that a married legionnaire was not as fearless in battle as a bachelor as he thought about his wife and children. His imperial decree, he forbade his soldiers to marry, but the priest Valentine continued to marry legionnaires with their loved ones. Then the angry emperor ordered the execution of the priest, and the legendary day of this execution, which seemed to have occurred on February 14, 270 - was a day of memory of the patron saint of lovers.

Another story of Valentine's Day tells us that, imprisoned on the orders of the emperor, Valentine fell in love with the daughter of a jailer. On the eve of his execution, he wrote her a message in which he confessed his love and which he signed briefly: "Your Valentine." Therefore, now it is customary to send beloved "valentines" - short letters with a confession of tender feelings. By the way, the oldest "valentine" is considered to be the cedar, written by the Duke of Orleans Charles from the London prison of the Tower to his wife in 1415. Today this letter is shown as an exhibit in the British Museum.

Yet the history of Valentine's Day has purely pagan roots, because of what this holiday is not particularly revered by some religions. In the Greek and Roman religions on February 14 was a holiday of the beginning of spring. On this day in Greece it was customary to honor Pan, the fertility god, and in Rome Lupercalia was held, which, apart from the fertility god, praised Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of the Eternal City. Lupercalia was celebrated in this way: all young and unmarried women of the city wrote their names on the tablets and put the tablets in a large amphora. The bachelors of Rome pulled out plates from amphora and in such a simple way, the toss became partners of women during the celebrations of Lupercalia. Such couples sometimes fell in love and got married. Pope Gelasius at the end of the fifth century recognized Valentine as a saint, but Lupercalia was banned by the Church.

But whatever the history of Valentine's Day, this holiday became the most popular in Western Europe after Christmas, because it allows the most sweet and laid-back way to express your love feelings. On this day, it is necessary that those who love each other exchange flowers (this must necessarily be red roses - emblems of passion), and also gave chocolate candies in boxes in the form of hearts (for love to be sweet) and colorful postcards-valentines, Also in the form of hearts. Previously, it was customary to write poetry confessions of love by hand, but now cards with already printed text are being sold. In recent times, virtual gifts for Valentine's Day via the Internet and SMS-valentines have become especially popular.