St. Valentine's Day

Hunter was asking last night why we have Valentine's day. So I did a little research.

Valentine's day was named after St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off.While he was jailed the lovers he had secretly married would come to visit him and bring him flowers and notes of appreciation. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries and fertility rituals.