By SUSANNA CONINE-NAKANO – Web Staff
Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m going to tell the story of St. Valentine to you.
This is a playoff of just one of the many sappy phrases written on Valentines cards. There is actually a meaning behind the whole day however, the day can be perceived as a “commercially made holiday”, but that’s not the case.
There are many legends behind Valentine’s Day according to the History Channel. The most common includes Saint Valentine, a roman priest around A.D. 270. Claudius II was the emperor in Rome at the time and banned single men in the military from marrying. Despite the ban, Saint Valentine continued to wed couples. When Claudius II found out, he order for Saint Valentine to be executed.
One legend has it that St. Valentine actually sent the first Valentine’s Day “card” after falling in love with a young girl while in prison. Legend also has it that Saint Valentine wrote the common signature of “from your valentine.”
Another legend says that Valentine wrote the letter for a young blind girl named Julia and signed “from your valentine.” It is also said that he healed the young girl from her blindness.
Even though there are different variations of the legend it is evident that there is more behind Valentine’s Day. Even though the holiday is now associated with heart-shaped chocolates and Hallmark cards, it was something more for hundreds of years before.
Rose are red, violets are blue, and I just told the story of St. Valentine to you.
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