You know what gets weird about this holiday? That there are at least three guys who claim sainthood by the Catholic Church who have the name St. Valentine and we really only have legends about two of them. It was like many holidays a product of legend and the Church's attempt to remove the pagan influences of the Roman world and replace it with Christian ones. Feb 14 used to be the beginning of a festival to celebrate Faunus -- the goat god of agriculture and fertility. You know the faun -- like Mr. Tumnis. It was considered to be a time for pairings to be done by lottery. That's right, boys step up an pick your lucky number for your new wife.
The Roman Church decided to change it by introducing St. Valentine and changing the nature of the holiday. The problem is which St. Valentine are we talking about? 1) The guy who performed marriages in secret in the Roman army because the Emperor outlawed them or 2) The guy who was smitten in love with a young woman and wrote a letter to her from prison and signed it -- "From your Valentine". Take your pick.
What is it today? Well, it is the day everyone goes broke trying to buy things to show that they love one another -- A day of romance and love in theory, but all those cards we buy are making someone money. I know -- I am the Scrooge of holidays but why is it that in order to prove my love to my wife I have to buy her something every February 14th? Oh, yeah because I love her. Wait a minute didn't I just say that? ;-)
Happy St. Valentine's Day
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