Valentine

February 14. What is the secret of this date? Why do people celebrate this day? February 14 is actually a Valentine’s Day. Some people declare that February is a month of romance. Why the day called Valentine’s Day? There is a history about this day.

According to the history that I have read, Valentine is taken from the name of Saint Valentine. The question is who is Saint Valentine? He is a priest who served during the third century in Rome. He was the man who realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were revealed, Claudius ordered that he be put to death but there is also other stories suggest that Valentine have been killed when he try to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to the other legend, Valentine sent the first ‘valentine’ greeting himself. While in the prison, Valentine fell in love with a young girl who is visiting him in the prison. It is also been believed that he has wrote her a letter before he death. The letter signed ‘From your Valentine’. It is actually an expression which is still in use until today. Some people believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to memorialize the anniversary of Valentine's death.

In Rome, February is considered as a time for purification. They will do a ritually cleansed for their house by sweeping and sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout the interiors.

That is all the summarizing of what I have been read about the history of Valentine’s Day. There are so many kinds of way that people do to celebrate this day. Whatever it is, back to our religion we are not suppose to celebrate this day as it is especially for Christians and also can ruin our faith.