St. Valentine

 I thought I would do a little deep dive into the history of Valentine's Day.  If you know me, then you know that I believe Valentine's Day should be a National Holiday.  I'm not talking Hallmark cards and gifts.  More like flowers, poems, homemade cards and pouring out your love for one another.

There isn't much information about St. Valentine.  What we do know is that he was a physician and a Roman priest.  He performed many marriages, thus the saint of love and marriage.  Valentine was big on spreading the word of God.  This happened to get him into trouble when he suggested to Claudius that he should become a Christian.  Valentine was sentenced to death.  He was to either renounce his faith or be clubbed to death.  Valentine refused and was executed on February 14.  A side story, that I'm not sure if it is true, Valentine, while awaiting his death sentence, sent a note to Asterius' daughter (the jailer's daughter that he healed from blindness) and signed the note, "from your Valentine."  

St. Valentine is the patron saint of love, marriage, bee keepers and people with epilepsy.

That lead me to another event that happened on this day in 1929 in Chicago, The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre.  The event took place at a warehouse in Lincoln Park where seven men were lined up against the wall and shot by four unknown people (two were dressed as police officers).  These murders were a result of a struggle for control between Bugs Moran and his Irish North Siders and the Italian Chicago Outfit headed by Al Capone, during Prohibition.

Lots of death on a day that is supposed to be dedicated to love.  

Some interesting facts I dug up about this National Holiday:

Valentine's cards originated in England in the 1700's.  People would send cards and flowers to loved ones and sign them, "your Valentine."  

The heart symbol was something that was drawn in the middle ages to represent the actual human heart.  Since the human heart is associated with love and emotion, the heart shape became the symbol for romance.

In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine's day.  Men return the favor by giving white chocolates on White Day which is March 14. 

In South Korea, single people who do not receive anything on Valentine's Day mourn their lack of love by eating black noodles on Black Day, which is celebrated on April 14.

In Denmark, there is an exchange of funny jokes and poems written on paper hearts.  Instead of signing their name, they put dots (symbol, not the word "dots").  If you guess who sent you the Valentine, you get an Easter egg later in the year.

In Guatemala the day is known as "el dia del carino" or the day of affection.  People dress up in masks and costumes and dance in the streets.  They exchange cards and gifts with loved ones, friends and coworkers.  The day is considered a celebration of love and friendship.

How do you plan on celebrating Valentine's Day this year?