Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.
One legend contends that 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 outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied 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.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Happy Valentines Day
Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14 by many people throughout the world. In the West, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
Valentines Day Gifts
Make Valentines Day perfect with a romantic gift experience for him, for her or for the two of you to share. You’ll find plenty of ideas for Valentines Day that will put everyone in the mood for love.
Chocolate Gift for Valentine's Day
Flowers Gift for Valentine's Day
Want to express your best wishes? Then send flowers from ProFlowers—because sending flowers is what we do best! Send flowers or plants like these, and say exactly what you want to.
Cards Gift for Valentine's Day
Valentines day poems
The story of the very first Valentines stems from a poem. Saint Valentine served as a priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Saint Valentine defied a marriage law in acted by Claudius, so the emperor had Saint Valentine jailed. Legend has it that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it, “From your Valentine” before his execution. Since then the tradition of love notes and love poems have enchanted us on the Valentines season. Later, emerged Valentine cards in the 1800’s with various sentimental love poems to be shared by loved ones on Valentines Day to this very day.
Valentines day Songs
Valentines Day Gifts
Make Valentines Day perfect with a romantic gift experience for him, for her or for the two of you to share. You’ll find plenty of ideas for Valentines Day that will put everyone in the mood for love.
Chocolate Gift for Valentine's Day
Flowers Gift for Valentine's Day
Want to express your best wishes? Then send flowers from ProFlowers—because sending flowers is what we do best! Send flowers or plants like these, and say exactly what you want to.
Cards Gift for Valentine's Day
Valentines day poems
The story of the very first Valentines stems from a poem. Saint Valentine served as a priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Saint Valentine defied a marriage law in acted by Claudius, so the emperor had Saint Valentine jailed. Legend has it that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it, “From your Valentine” before his execution. Since then the tradition of love notes and love poems have enchanted us on the Valentines season. Later, emerged Valentine cards in the 1800’s with various sentimental love poems to be shared by loved ones on Valentines Day to this very day.
Valentines day Songs
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Valentine's Day Romantic Wallpapers
Add some romance in your life on this valentine's day by planning for some romantic candle-light dinner, romantic long drive on car, romantic roses for your dear valentine and other romantic activities. Your work stations also needs some romantic stuff to create feel and magic of romance. Couples enjoy romance by sharing time together. You can even create the feel of romance by downloading these free romantic wallpapers not only on this valentine's day but for other occassions also.
Valentines Day Hug Wallpapers - Big Hug,Smiley Hug
Hug, the most beautiful feeling of embracing in the arms to cling together closely. This activity is highly practised among lovers and couples. Download these hug wallpapers to express the desire of 'give me hug' to your dear valentine. A big hug makes couples feel closed and binded together. Begin your date on this valentine's day by hugging each other. These cute smiley hugs, teddy hug, friends hug, kisses and hugs, heart hugs and lots more to get. You can even set these wallpapers on mobiles or cell phones along with computer desktops.
Valentines Day Kiss Wallpaper - Sweet Kiss,French Kiss,Cool Kiss
Kiss is the most beautiful touch of lips expressing feelings of love and desire among couples who are deeply in love with each other. It is not only practised between adults, even people who care for other person also kiss just like a mother kisses her kids. On valentine's day, lovers and couples kiss each other to express their unconditional love. Couples kiss each other on hands, forehead, lips, cheeks, nipples, stomach and various other body parts to signify their different feelings. There are variety of kisses like french kiss, chocolate kiss, after sweet kiss, bath kiss, hot kiss, naval kiss and many more. Don't miss to set these kiss wallpapers on this valentine's day for free to give your dear valentine a reason to talk and kissing you.
Free Valentine's Day Love Wallpapers
Love is the main theme of February where different love festivals fall like valentine's day, smile day, kiss day, hug day and various other celebrations. So, don't miss to decor your desktop with love theme based wallpapers. Select your choice of love wallpapers from below displayed thumbnails. Enjoy the festive spirit of love and romance with love roses, love hearts, love couples and other themes.
Free Valentine's Day Wallpapers
Love is in the air. The calendar of love and romance is going to begin from February. So why don't you add some romance in your life with these valentine wallpapers designed specially for the lovers day. Capture the tender moments of love and sharing between couples on the valentine's day by setting these beautiful wallpapers based on theme of hearts, roses, couples, love quotes, kisses and other grand collection for free. Refresh your desktop with the festive spirit of valentine wrapped in the fragrance of love for someone very special in life.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Love Couple Picture Cards
The Valentine season brings the romance in the air and young heart fall in love with the magical dreams of life. here we have some pleasant Love Couple Picture Cards and e greeting for everyone to feel the spirit of this lovable day.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Valentines Day Symbols
Valentine's Day symbolizes love, affection, desire and belonging ness between couples, girlfriend-boyfriend, friends and other close people. The day has special importance with symbols of love, romance, emotions need for lovers. They use certain famous symbols to express their love for each other. The famous and most commonly used valentine's day symbols are cupid, red rose, chocolates, hearts, gifts, love birds, laces, ribbons, kisses, love knots, hugs and lots more in red color. Few symbols are closely linked with fertility.
Short Valentines Day Poems
Poetry is the best option to express your heart felt feelings of love, desire and affection for the other person. A poet compose beautiful lines of poems which wins heart of many people and easily convey your message to the listner. For all those people who are in love and cannot express their love and adoration can do so with poems. Few people opt for cards, few opt for letters and rare opt for poems. All such people are most welcome to surf our database of short valentines day peoms which can express your feelings adequately to your dear valentine.
You’re in my thoughts and in my heart
Wherever I may go;
On Valentine’s Day I’d like to say
I care more than you know.
By Joanna Fuchs
Free Valentines Day Backgrounds
Click on these images to download full size of these free valentine's day backgrounds to be used as layout for your various web applications as well as in myspace profile. Celebrate Valentine's Day by using any of our awesome layouts for your desktops and laptops. The hearts, roses, red color are basic theme for all wallpapers, cards, clipart, graphics, screensavers and backgrounds.
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