Valentine’s Day is the traditional day to remember friends and loved ones with candy, flowers or greeting cards. There are several versions of the origin of Valentine’s Day.
The contemporary version of Valentine’s Day, a day to show your affection for loved ones by giving cards and gifts, has its roots in medieval England and France. It was a widely held belief that birds chose their mates on the 14th of February, therefore, the day was seen as one set aside for lovers. English and French literature from the 13th and 14th centuries discuss the custom of sending love letters and tokens of affection to one's beloved on this day. Chaucer’s Parliament of Foules mentions the practice.
Valentine’s Day gets its name from the three Saint Valentines. According to one legend, Emperor Claudius II banned young men from marrying because he believed that single men made better soldiers. Valentine was a priest who secretly married couples under the reign of Claudius II.
Web Sites
- History Channel
- PBS Kids
- The University of Kansas Medical Center
- Victorian
Valentine’s Day Cards: The Indiana University
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