To tell the story of Saint Valentine is to tell a story full of mystery and doubt. Throughout history two Italian Saints have been listed as Saint Valentine, but it has never been proven whether there were two separate people, or one and the same person.
If history is correct, and there were two Saint Valentines, then they were the Bishop of Terni and a Roman Priest. Both have been listed as Martyrs, suffering for their beliefs, though it’s the fate of the Roman Priest that has become famous. It’s thought that the Roman Priest was alive during the reign of Emperor Claudius in 270 AD, an Emperor who believed that married men made bad soldiers, and as such introduced a law that outlawed the marriage of young couples. The Roman Priest did not believe in this law, and managed to conduct marriage ceremonies in secret. He was eventually sent to jail and beheaded for his crimes, though legend has it, that while imprisoned he fell in love with the jailor’s daughter and sent her a note signed ‘From Your Valentine’, an enduring phrase, and still popular in the Valentine Gift and Card Industry today.
This story is perhaps one of the strongest links between this Roman Priest, and the themes of love and romance which are commonly associated with Valentines Day. It’s thought that the first Valentines Day was announced, in the priest’s honour on 14th February 496 AD by Pope Galasius, although other theories include Valentines Day being more firmly linked with birds mating on that day, and the pagan fertility festival of Lupercalia.
Although little more than this is known of the origins of Saint Valentine, the life or lives of the people given this title, or the true origins of Saint Valentines Day, it does seem fitting that there is some hint of mystery and romance attached to the story of this particular Saint and his feast day.
