The TrueHistory Of Valentine's Day

 5thCentury, Rome

 MidFebruary was traditionally the time of the Lupercian festival, an ode tothe God of
 fertilityand a celebration of sensual pleasure, a time to meet and court a prospectivemate. In
 AD496, Pope Gelasius outlawed the pagan festival. But he was clever to replaceit with a
 similarcelebration, although one deemed morally suitable. He needed a "lovers"saint to
 replacethe pagan deity Lupercus.

 Themartyred Bishop Valentine was chosen as the patron saint of the new festival.

 SaintValentine had been beheaded for helping young lovers marry against thewishes of the
 mademperor Claudius. Before execution, Valentine himself had fallen in lovewith his jailer's
 daughter.He signed his final note to her, "From Your Valentine", a phrase that haslasted
 throughthe centuries.

 PopeGelasius did'nt get everything he wanted. The pagan festival died out,it is true, but he
 hadfurther hoped people would emulate the lives of saints. Instead they latchedonto the
 moreromantic aspect of Saint Valentines religious life. While not immediatelyas popular as
 themore passionate pagan festival, eventually the concept of celebrating truelove became
 knownas Valentines Day.

HappyValentine's Day To Everyone On February 14, 2000 !

Love,
Marilyn