Valentine's Day is celebrated every 14th of February. Some people interpret it as a celebration of love, the other accused as 'a warning that deliberately held' to boost sales of cards, chocolates, flowers, and other items that are considered to represent an expression of love.
Whatever one's opinion about Valentine, of course there is the history on that day.
From the origin of its name, the Catholic Church recognizes there are 3 saint or saints named Valentine or Valentinus. "And the third is a martyr," as quoted from the Guardian website, Friday, February 13, 2015. The three men from the past 200 AD was killed in tragic.
One story said, Once Upon Roman Emperor Claudius II forbade young soldiers were married, so they do not 'sluggish' on the battlefield.
However, "Bishop Valentine disobeyed it and marry one couple quietly. He executed when the authorities know the secret marriage."
When he was imprisoned, the legend said that the man from Genoa was then fell in love with the daughter of the person who put him in jail. Before executed brutally, he made a love letter to her lover. Which closed with the words, 'From your Valentine'.
Another Valentine was a cleric in the Roman Empire that help the Christians who were persecuted during the reign of Claudius II. When imprisoned, he was restoring the sight of a blind girl - who later falls in love with her. Valentine was executed beheaded on February 14th.
The third is a pious bishop of Terni, who also tortured and diekselusi during the reign of Claudius II, also dated February 14 - in different years.
Regardless of the legend, St. Valentine and love relationship emerged much later. In the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer, English poet and author of the famous book, 'The Canterbury Tales'. Similarly, according to Andy Kelly, an expert in English from the University of California, Los Angeles, who wrote the book 'Chaucer and the Cult of St. Valentine'.
Chaucer, wrote a poem titled Parliament of fowls (1382), to celebrate the engagement of King Richard II.
In the poem, Valentine's Day is celebrated on May 3, instead of February 14. "It is a day where all the birds chose their partners in a year," said Kelly. "Shortly thereafter, in one generation, people took the idea to celebrate Valentine's Day as a day of love."
Valentine is a reference Chaucer probably was Saint Valentine of Genoa who died on 3 May. But the people at that time was not so familiar with that figure.
They are more familiar with the story of Rome and Valentine of Terni were executed on 14 February - which is then associated with love.
The story of Valentine's Day can be traced from the ancient Roman era, related to pagan worship. Each February 13-15, residents celebrate the ancient Roman Lupercalia. The ceremony began with the sacrifice of two goats and a dog.
Then, half-naked man running in the streets, whipping the young girl with a strap made of goatskin newly sacrificed. While it may sound like some sort of perverted sadomasochistic ritual, it made the Romans do until year 496 AD. As a rite of purification and fertility.
"The ceremony is believed to make women more fertile," said Noel Lenski, historian from the University of Colorado, Boulder, as published by USA Today.
Peak Lupercalia on February 15, at the foot of the Palatine Hill, in addition to the cave - which is believed to be a she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus - the founder of the city of Rome in Roman mythology.
In 496, Pope Gelasius I banned the Lupercalia and declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day.
Commercialization Celebration of Love?
Valentine synonymous with flowers, chocolates, cards, even Cupid - Roman god of love depicted as winged naughty little boy and plump. How origins?
The oldest Valentine card made by a nobleman, Duke Charles of Orleans. Imprisoned in the Tower of London or the Tower of London after the British captured in 1415, Charles wrote a love letter to his wife rhyming, Bonne d'Armagnac - which is now kept in the British Library, London.
The poem consists of two lines, in French. Unfortunately, she passed before Charles returned to France in 1440.
However, experts English from SUNY-Buffalo State, Ann C. Colley said, giving new Valentine cards popular in England in the mid-19th century.
There are two supporters of the time: the first British postal service, Penny Post was founded - makes sending a letter be cheap and available to everyone.
The second factor, for the first time, mass produced Valentine card. Molding machine was then able to apply a number of printing methods, such as embossed, lace design, or a 3-dimensional card. Thus says professor of American history and popular culture at George Mason University.
Although culture provides Valentine cards originated from the UK, its influence spread to the United States in the 1840s.
Interestingly, in the UK, the card is not only given to people who estimated, but also on those who are not favored.
chocolate Valentine
Chocolate has long been regarded as an aphrodisiac, generating excitement. Starting oada 17th century, when the first cocoa beans were brought to Europe from Mexico and Central America, Europeans associate with the story of Montezuma and his wives.
The 19th century was a period in which the sweets and sugary snacks is more affordable for the middle class, as the mass production of chocolate.
In 1868, Richard Cadbury issued the first Valentine's Day chocolate. "There is a notion that makes chocolate aphrodisiac appropriate for Valentine's Day," said Alexandra Leaf, culinary expert and founder of Chocolate Tours of New York City.
Cupid
In the 5th century, Eros (the inspiration for the word 'erotic'), the Greek version of Cupid, portrayed as tall young man, athletic, heroic, and have wings. Similarly Angeline said Chiu, a professor at the University of Vermont told USA Today.
Why, why now looks like a baby?
According to Chiu, Cupid transformation, from dashing young man so cute baby comes from the art of the Renaissance era.
"Maestro Raphael and other artists to paint plump little baby everywhere," said Chiu. "They do not mean to paint Cupid. Maybe to describe love in general," he added.
However, the image of Cupid as a cute baby to survive until today.
Red Roses
In the 18th century, Charles II of Sweden introduced the idea that flowers symbolize emotion or message implied. According ProFlowers.com.
"Today, the red rose is associated with passionate love, pink roses for friendship, white for purity, and red-white is unity," said Jennifer Sparks, spokesman for the Society of American Florists.
However, he suggested, giving flowers do not have to bother thinking about the meaning. Focus on flowers favored by the recipient.
source: usatoday.com, theguardian.com
