In our time, probably, there is no person who would not know that February 14 is Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day. This holiday has long crossed all state borders and rejected the prohibitions of all religions. Maybe because Love itself stands behind it - the eternal guardian of life?
Time keeps several legends about Saint Valentine. According to one of them, Valentine was a monk in ancient Rome. Roman legionnaires, by decree of the Emperor Claudius II, were allowed to create a family only at the end of their service. And the service lasted 25 years. Those who did not want to wait so long, secretly and in violation of the imperial decree, were crowned by Valentine. And not only married - to the wives of those soldiers who went on long campaigns, Valentine sent flowers on behalf of their husbands, thereby supporting the women yearning for their beloved. Upon learning of this, the emperor ordered the capture of the monk and imprisonment. While in prison, Valentine fell in love with a girl who turned out to be the jailer's daughter. As a priest who took a vow of celibacy, he could not give free rein to his feelings and wrote her only one letter, which the girl could receive only after the death of the monk. Valentine was executed on February 14. It is symbolic that the date of St. Valentine's execution coincided with the Roman celebrations in honor of one of the most revered goddesses - Juno, the goddess of love!
According to another version, Valentine was a priest and a doctor and was sentenced by the Roman pagans to death for preaching Christianity. In prison, thanks to his treatment and prayers, the jailer's daughter was healed of blindness. Valentine and the girl fell in love, and before the execution on February 14, 270, he sent her a note in the shape of a heart and signed it "from your Valentine."
Another legend says that Valentine was very fond of children, whom he always tried to help. When Valentine was thrown into prison, the children handed him gifts and sweets, and he answered them with short encouraging notes.
The remains of St. Valentine were buried in the Church of St. Praxidis in Rome. The gate of this church was called "Valentine's Gate". And in the hometown of Valentine - Terni, there is a Basilica in memory of him. Priceless relics are kept in the Church of St. Anthony in Madrid and even in Ireland, in the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, his sacred remains are buried ... 200 years later, in 496, Pope Gelasius elevated Valentine to the rank of a martyr, and February 14 was declared Valentine's Day and began to be celebrated as Valentine's Day. And Valentine's letter to his beloved became the prototype of love messages - "valentines". Since 1969, as a result of the reform of the divine services, Saint Valentine was removed from the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, since he was numbered among the Roman saints, information about whose life is contradictory and unreliable. But no one is able to cancel this holiday, because all over the world, for more than one and a half thousand years, lovers have considered their patron Saint Valentine.
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In Russia, Valentine's Day is celebrated relatively recently, although in Russia there was an analogue of Valentine's Day - the Day of Peter and Fevronia, which was celebrated on July 8th. In 2008, the Federation Council of Russia approved the initiative to establish on the day of their memory - July 8 (June 25 of the old style) "Day of conjugal love and family happiness."
An indispensable attribute of Valentine's Day - "Valentine" - a card with a heart and words about love - came into use in the 15th century. It is not always performed in the shape of a heart, but the expression "From your Valentine" is traditionally used in valentines of Western countries to this day. One of the first valentines was written by the Duke of Orleans Charles in 1415 to his wife. During this period, he was imprisoned in the Tower. This card has been preserved, you can see it in the British Museum. According to the legend, Valentine was left-handed, so you need to write a Valentine card with your left hand or from right to left.Some researchers even believe that the greeting card even appeared in connection with Valentine's Day. And the first factory valentine appeared in 1840.
It was believed that on this day, not only people, but also birds are looking for their mate. And the phrase about lovers "cooing like doves" suggested another emblem for a Valentine - a couple of doves.
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But the red rose - a symbol of ardent love and passion - became the floral emblem of Valentine's Day. It is believed that this tradition was founded by Louis XVI, when he presented Marie Antoinette on Valentine's Day with a huge bouquet of red roses of extraordinary beauty and splendor. Today, on this day, you can give any flowers and in any quantity, but preference is still given to the colors of red tones.
One of the most popular flower gifts for Valentine's Day is the Heart of Flowers. There are many options for the execution of such flower hearts. The traditional classic version is a heart of scarlet roses; juicy greens or clouds of white gypsophila can be used for framing. No words are required for such a gift! Red roses themselves speak of passion and love. Hearts made of scarlet and white roses, which speak of the unity of loving souls, are no less popular. Every woman will be happy to receive such a flower heart from her husband. Hearts of tender pink or white roses will be a wonderful symbol of your tenderness and purity of feelings. This version of the heart is good for the bride and will be appropriate as a gift for her beloved.
Flower hearts made of carnations or spray chrysanthemums of all shades - scarlet, white, cream, pink - look unusually romantic. In such a composition, several varieties of different colors can be used at once, forming another silhouette of a heart inside the heart.
Floral hearts of delicate spring flowers are also magnificent: white or pink tulips, anemones, hyacinths, freesia. Orchids are a great addition to such a composition of spring flowers.
In addition to flowers, sweets, soft toys, ornaments are presented on this day, but, of course, the emblem of this holiday is the heart. Different countries have different traditions of gifts for Valentine's Day, for example, in Wales it is customary to give loved ones decorated with hearts, keys and keyholes, wooden spoons, carved with their own hands. In Japan, Valentine's Day began to be celebrated in the 30s of the last century, and until now, chocolate remains the most common gift. For the French, on Valentine's Day, it is customary to give jewelry to loved ones, and in Denmark - to send dried white flowers to loved ones. In Italy, it is customary to give all kinds of sweets, cookies and heart-shaped chocolates. In America, too, preference is given to sweets packed in heart-shaped boxes. According to the established tradition, on Valentine's Day, they congratulate not only those with whom they are in a romantic relationship, but also everyone they just love - moms, dads, grandmothers, grandfathers, friends. On this day, the British give sweets in the form of hearts and soft toys, especially the Teddy bear cubs so beloved in Britain.
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It is interesting that on Valentine's Day in some countries it is customary to give gifts not only to women, but also to men - this happens, for example, in Japan. And Japanese men on this day arrange a competition for the loudest declaration of love. On this day, the British congratulate not only their relatives and friends, but also their pets.
And here is another international tradition of this holiday - for those who spend this day or most of it away from their beloved "half", this "half" puts tiny "valentines" in the pockets of all clothes the day before. Finding these cute signs of attention in their own clothes on February 14, the chosen one will not feel lonely.
But in Saudi Arabia and Iran, this holiday is officially banned on pain of very heavy fines.All shops in these countries are strictly prohibited from selling teddy bears, "valentines" and any symbols related to this holiday. And flower shops cannot sell red roses on February 14. But I am sure that in these countries, on Valentine's Day, lovers find ways to tell their "halves" about their feelings with flowers, words or looks - it doesn't matter, because no one can forbid Love!
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