History of Valentine's Day by Kira Long

What does Valentine’s Day mean to you? Do you know where it came from? Do you know how it started?  Well, it’s not all about candy, flowers and expensive dinners. St. Valentine actually sent out the first valentine to his love. While in prison, he fell in love with a young girl who may have been the jailor’s daughter. She frequently visited him in the jail. He signed the card by saying “from your Valentine.” The history of Valentine’s day is not what you would expect. Valentine’s day was originally on the 15th of February. Pope Gelasius declared that Valentine’s day should be on the 14th of February because all the popes had to marry on the 14th of February. Pope Claudius the second had prohibited marriage for the young men claiming that the young men made better soldiers. Valentine secretly performed marriage ceremonies in opposition. He was eventually caught by the Romans and put to death.