Legends of St Valentine's Day

Going back to history there are few interesting legends of St.Valentine's Day that are popular. They stretch their origin back in to the pagan history and Christian church. Owing to the popularity of the festival, people combined all the possibilities of the legends associated with the day.

Famous Legends of St.Valentine's Day

Some of the famous legends of Saint Valentine's are as follows:-

• Feast of Lupercalia
• Saint Valentine from Rome, Part 1
• Saint Valentine from Rome, Part 2
• Birds Mating Time

The same can be elucidated as follows.

Feast of Lupercalia

The old tenets trace the history of Valentine's Day back to the Roman Empire. At that time people on 14th February, used to observe a holiday as an honor to Juno, the mythological Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddess. The following day, i.e. February 15th came to be observed as the fertility festival known as the Feast of Lupercalia.

As per the popular legend of St.Valentine's Day, it is during this feast that the members of Lupercali, used to gather in a secret cave. This cave is where Romulus and Remus were kept. They would gather here for their festivities. Amidst the celebrations, the young bachelors of the city would take an urn chit out and pair themselves with a girl for the forthcoming year. On most occasions it was said that the couples would fall in love with each other and marry. Some historians have thus drawn a parallel to this grand legend of St.Valentine's Day, i.e the feast and the modern day celebrations on the same date.

Past Saint Valentine Legends

Saint Valentine of Rome -I

One set of legend depicts Saint Valentine to be a priest in Rome, under the supremacy of Claudius II. As a Saint he was pious and yet was romantic at heart and supported all causes of love and marriage. As a priest, Saint Valentine used to arrange for secret marriages between soldiers and their lovers. This was completely unacceptable by Claudius II, since he prohibited marriage for his opponent soldiers under his rule.

As a result of which, Saint Valentine was arrested and imprisoned. Later on he was beheaded on 14th Feb. Therefore some people connect this event to the modern day Valentine celebrations.

Saint Valentine of Rome -II

The other story of St.Valentine's Day is associated with a priest named Valentine who was said to be very popular with children. At that time, roman regime was not very fond of Christian faith. As a result persecution of the Christians took place in Rome. Saint Valentine continued with his own faith and beliefs, and this annoyed Emperor Claudius II, who has put him in prison. He was finally beheaded in February 14th.

Legend of Birds Mating Time

This is one of the more contemporary and modern legend if St.Valentine's Day. According to this, the people during middle ages believed that birds across France and England would look for a mate February 14th onwards. This supported the modern day view that Valentines Day is a day for love and courtship.

Owing to the interesting legends of St.Valentine's Day, the festival has now become prevalent globally.