Valentine's day

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone...
May everyone have a lovely day ya~
Let see ta history of Valentine's day..

February is the month of romance, giving of your heart to another. Accross the US, millions of Valentines are sent in the form of flowers, cards, candy and other gifts all in the name of Saint Valentine. Who is this mysterious saint of lovers? How did this day come to be?
The history of Valentine's Day and its saint are not fully known but we do know that February has long been a month of cupids, love and romance. Saint Valentine's Day, which we celebrate today, contains remnants 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 Saint 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, single 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.

According to one legend, Saint Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that the venerable Saint Valentine fell in love with a young girl, who may have been his jailor's daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in Europe.
The origins matter little today as Saint Valentine's name has become synonymous with love. Flowers, cards, candy and gifts all mean you have special feelings for a special person. Whether given to a lover or a friend, by a man or a woman, boy or girl, young or old--a valentine means you care.