Every February, love blooms with the coming of spring
across the country. It is the season of love for the entire globe. It is
in this month that the special day of love Valentine's Day falls.
Valentine's Day is celebrated on 14th February every year. It is the day
officially appointed for celebrating love. The day is marked with grand
festivity, when people exchange candy, gifts and cards, all in the name
of St. Valentine. In case you are wondering when is Valentine's Day
2009, we can tell you that this time, it will fall on a weekend i.e.
Saturday.
Although the history of Valentine's Day is not clear, there are
different legends associated with it, all surrounding Saint Valentine.
According to one legend, Valentine was a priest who served during the
third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men
made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he banned
marriage for young men - his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine,
realizing the prejudice of the judgment, went against Claudius and
continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When
Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to
death.
It is believed that his death anniversary, 14th February, later came to
be celebrated as Valentine's Day. Another popular legend states that
Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. It is
believed that, while in prison, Valentine fell in love with a young
girl. She is supposed to be the jailor's daughter, who visited him
during his captivity. It is said that he wrote a letter to her before
his death, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is
still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is
misty, the stories certainly highlight Valentine's appeal as a romantic
figure.
There is no doubt that by the Middle Ages, Saint Valentine was one of
the most popular saints in England and France. History gives references
of numerous legends associated with the celebration of Valentines Day.
However murky may be the reasons of this festival, it has got a
worldwide acceptance as a day marked with colossal celebration of love.
Valentines Day is the single day which provides people with a prospect
of showing their love, care and gratitude for the important people in
their life.
