St. Valentine: Two Saint Valentines are said to have existed. One was a priest in Rome and the other was the bishop of Terni. The martyrs were both said to have been executed by Claudius the Goth around 270 A.D., on Feb. 14. The first was beheaded on Flaminian Way near Rome and the other in Terni. Monuments have been built for both Saints. The men were persecuted by the Romans, who still believed in their pagan gods and did not believe in Catholicism. The men were said to have hidden Christians who were being persecuted, having cured blindness by prayer, and having performed marriages during times of war, when they were forbidden. One of the reasons for the Valentines being associated with love may be for performing the marriages.
However, the connection between the Valentines and the sending of love notes and gifts seems to be completely accidental. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that on the second fortnight of the second month, Feb. 14, the birds would begin mating, prompting lovers to send messages and gifts to those eachother. Many well known writers have made references to this date and the events, including Chaucer, who said "For this was on seynt Valentynes day, whan every foul cometh ther to chese his mate." Information gathered from the Encyclopedia Americana and Merit Students Encyclopedia Luperealia In ancient Rome, the feast of fertility, called Luperealia, was celebrated on Feb. 15. During this festival boys and girls were paired for courting. On this day young men, dressed in loin-clothes, ran through the streets and struck women with clothes, which was said to bring fertility and ease in childbirth.
In 1969, the feast of St. Valentine was removed from the Roman Church Calendar because the church felt there were too many pagan associations and a lack of honor being paid to the Saints.
Send E-mail Send e-mail Valentine cards from these (and many other) homepages www.e-cards.com/ or www.aristotle.net/valentines/ or send anti-valentine e-mail from www.pacific.net.st/cards/val/dark.html St. Valentine's Day Massacre On Feb. 14, 1929, members of Al Capone's gang disguised themselves as policemen and executed seven members of the gang of George Moran, Capone's rival. The men were lined up against a garage wall and shot. Capone's gunners were never found guilty of this crime and no charges were brought against them.