The origin of Valentines day goes all the way back to the days of the Roman Empire, when Emperor Claudius II was the ruler. In an attempt to have more soldiers for his army, he tried to recruit every man possible, but when he saw that the men refused to leave their wives and family, he decided that all marriages should be forbidden.
But there was a priest who was loved in Rome by everyone, who thought it was unfair for young lovers not get married and share their life with the person they love. The name of the priest was Valentine, and he started to marry couples in secret. When Claudius II found out about the secret marriages, was furious and ordered that Valentine should be put in jail, where he spent the rest of his life. When he died his friends recovered his body and buried it on a churchyard in Rome.
One more version says that Valentine used to help everyone, even Christians, this was forbidden by the Emperor, who put him in jail. While he was prisoner, Valentine felt in love with one of the jailer's daughter, and every day he used to send her love notes signed : "From Your Valentine". Sadly one day the Emperor ordered that he should be beaten up with cubs to death, it is believed that he died on February 14th, and to honor him, Pope Gelasius set aside this date. But the King Henry VIII declared the day officially a holiday on 1537.
As time passed by Valentine became a Saint for all the lovers, and people around the world started to celebrate love during this day. Also some people believed that the first person of the opposite sex who one met the morning on February 14th, would be that person's Valentine.
We talked about why it is celebrated love in this day, but let me tell you now the origin of Valentine's day letters and poems: Supposedly the tradition of send poems on Valentine's day started thanks to a Frenchman, Charles Duke Of Orleans around 1415, who was made prisoner during the Battle Of Agincourt.
For various years he sent poems or as we know them now "Valentines" to his wife back in France. The first commercial Valentine card appeared in 1800, they started just with poems, but later some art was added to give it some more romanticism.
And this is the origin of Valentines day, please click on the links on the right of the screen to learn some facts and tradition of Valentine's Day.
source:
www.read-legends-and-myths.com/origin-of-valentines-day.html
