As Valentine’s Day approaches, plans are being made, lovers are getting cuddlier and single men and women are sulking in annoyance. The day of love is about chocolate, love, affection and beautiful gifts. It is yet another holiday that Africans adopted from the West. But how many people really know the history behind this romantic holiday? As great as it is to celebrate love, it is even greater when you know the origins of the holiday you are celebrating.
Reportedly, there were three early Christians saints named Valentine, but the one who was the genesis of the holiday was probably based on is a Roman priest who lived during the 3rd Century A.D under Emperor Claudius II.
At the time the Roman Empire was going through a period of massive turmoil. During that time, which was dubbed the Crisis of the Third Century by scholars, Claudius made an unpopular decision to ban marriage between young people. Claudius was having a hard time recruiting soldiers to fight in the army because only a few were willing to leave their wives and families. Thus due to desperation, he banned engagements and marriages. He believed that unmarried soldier were more focused and fought better than married ones.
This decision was not met with open arms and resulted in people getting married in secret. One priest who dared to defy the emperor by officiating marriages in the sly was a Valentine. The brave priest believed that marriage was a God-given sacrament and thus a right. He was eventually caught and imprisoned and sentenced to death. While in prison, Valentine received flowers from those who wished him well. Sadly, the priest was ultimately beheaded but was later named a martyr by the church. He was honored because of his willingness to sacrifice his love to perform the sacrament of marriage and for his love of love and God.
It must be noted that before Valentine’s execution, on February 14, a significantly less romantic Roman holiday called Lupercalia was celebrated.
At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14 to be St. Valentine's Day. As years went by authors like Geoffrey Chaucer and Shakespeare romanticized the day and it gained popularity.
Valentine’s Day should not just be about chocolate or single awareness day or thousand dollar jewelry. If there is anything we can take from the story of St. Valentine is that, February the 14th should be a reflection of what love means, and that there are some people who are willing to sacrifice themselves for us to love and be loved. So, let us not squander this holiday, love should be shown every day, not just on Valentine’s Day.
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