Be Happy - Express Your Love Freely

Valentine's Day - a day that celebrates love, romance, passion in every way, the world over. It is also a holiday where people honor friendship, affection, and love for others. Valentine's Day is named after Saint Valentine, the patron saint of lovers and is celebrated on February 14th every year.

Valentine's Day is named in the memory of St. Valentine of Rome. Emperor Claudius II arrested him for helping Christian martyrs. Saint Valentine also became the patron saint of lovers as the church assimilated the fertility festival Lupercalia into their calendar.

Saint Valentine's Day (commonly shortened to Valentine's Day) is an annual holiday held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The holiday is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The holiday first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

In another version, it is said that what we call Valentine's Day was at one time the Feast of St. Valentine. It was a religious holiday. According to church tradition St. Valentine was a priest near Rome in about the year 270 A.D. At that time the Roman Emperor was imprisoning Christians for not worshipping the Roman gods. During this persecution Valentine was arrested for refusing to give up Christianity. While in prison Valentine continued to pray to Jesus and spread the love of Christianity. He was said to have restored the sight of a jailor's blind daughter whilst in prison. When the emperor heard about this he was furious that Valentine was still making converts even in prison, so he had Valentine beheaded. He died on February 14, 269 A.D. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine".

Whatever be the story, it is an opportunity to express your love to your beloved, and to celebrate the spirit of love. Present a rose or a bunch of roses or something you feel appropriate but sincerely.

Be Happy - Express Your Love Freely.