insideKENT Magazine Issue 35 - February 2015 | Page 124

VALENTINE’SDAY

valentine’s day

WHAT’S IT
REALLY ABOUT?

As everyone (although some, perhaps, need a little nudge nearer the time) knows, Valentine’s
Day is the 14th February, and on that day we treat our loved ones to thoughtful cards and
gifts, such as chocolates, flowers, or jewellery. Restaurants and hotels are booked for
months in advance – especially if Valentine’s Day itself falls on a Friday or a Saturday as it
does this year – and romantic plans are made. BY LISAMARIE LAMB
But what’s the history behind this
lovey-dovey holiday? Well, it’s a little
less hearts and flowers, and a little
more war and bloodshed, and there
are two legends that give rise to it.
The first dates back to 269AD, when
the Roman Emperor Claudius II
(Claudius the Cruel as he was more
aptly known) was fighting some fairly
bloody campaigns on many fronts.
He was quickly running out of men
to go into battle for him, and began
to lose ground. With a long losing
streak and his soldiers being
slaughtered on the battlefield, it
comes as no surprise that anyone
who hadn’t yet joined up had
second thoughts about becoming
a soldier. For Claudius, however,
the reason was not quite so clear
– he was sure that the reason for
the dwindling numbers was
because the men did not want to
go off to war and leave their
girlfriends behind!
His plan was swift and simple;
Claudius cancelled any upcoming
marriages, and banned
engagements. Now his men could
focus on fighting (and dying) for him.
Valentine, a Roman priest, was a
romantic who decided to defy

Claudius’ orders and perform
marriages anyway. These marriages
were conducted in secret, but they
were, unfortunately for Valentine,
not secret enough, and he was
discovered. Valentine was
sentenced to death by beheading.

Valentine’s Day Traditions
There are many traditions
associated with Valentine’s Day.
Some have their roots in ancient
Pagan ideas, and some are more
modern.

Whilst awaiting execution, Valentine
is said to have fallen in love with his
jailer’s daughter, and his last letter
before his death on 14th February
was to her, and it was signed ‘from
your Valentine’.

One tradition is, of course, to send
a card. For those in relationships,
the card is usually signed with their
own name, but for those who are
admiring from afar, they tend to
copy St. Valentine himself, and
simply sign ‘from your Valentine’,
or something equally mysterious. If the person who receives the card
guesses – and ‘accuses’ – the right person of sending it, the recipient must
then give the sender a kiss.

The second story is also Roman in
origin. In ancient Rome, 14th
February was a day set aside to
honour Juno, the queen of the gods,
and goddess of women and
marriage. This was the one time
during the year that young boys
and girls were allowed to celebrate
together; normally they were kept
strictly separate. A game was
played wherein the names of the
girls were put into a pot, and the
boys would each choose one. They
would spend the evening with their
‘fate chosen’ partners, and this
would often lead to marriage.

In Denmark, where Valentine’s Day has only been celebrated for around 25
years, snowdrops are the traditional flower to send, and cards usually
contain a joke or amusing poem.
In South Korea, only the women give gifts which include chocolates and
flowers. However, one month later on 14th March it is the turn of the men
to give gifts to those from whom they received them on Valentine’s Day –
but they should give jewellery or other romantic tokens as well as a box of
chocolates.
For Italian women, tradition states that they should get up early on Valentine’s
Day and go for a walk. The first man they see is the one they will marry
within the year.

Which do you think is the true story?
Or is it something else entirely?

124

However you choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day, have fun!