VALENTINE'S DAY CONTAINS VESTIGES OF BOTH CHRISTIAN AND ANCIENT ROMAN TRADITION. IN ROMAN TIMES, THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL WAS CALLED LUPERCALIA AND TOOK PLACE THE 15TH OF FEBRUARY. AFTER CHRISTIANITY REPLACED PAGANISM IN ROME, THE CHURCH ENDED THIS RAUCOUS FESTIVAL.
ACCORDING TO LEGEND, THE CHURCH THEN RENAMED THE HOLIDAY ST. VALENTINE'S DAY IN HONOR OF ST. VALENTINE, A PRIEST WHO LIVED DURING 3RD CENTURY ROME. EMPEROR CLAUDIUS II, THE RULER AT THAT TIME, FELT THAT SINGLE MEN MADE THE BEST SOLDIERS, SINCE THEY DIDN'T HAVE WIVES OR CHILDREN TO CONTEND WITH. THEREFORE, HE OUTLAWED MARRIAGE FOR YOUNG MEN.
ST. VALENTINE THOUGHT THIS UNJUST AND DEFIED THE EMPEROR BY PERFORMING SECRET MARRIAGES FOR YOUNG LOVERS. ONCE DISCOVERED, HE WAS IMPRISONED AND EVENTUALLY PUT TO DEATH. WHILE IN PRISON, IT IS BELIEVED ST. VALENTINE FELL IN LOVE WITH A YOUNG GIRL WHO VISITED HIM WHILE CONFINED. BEFORE HIS DEATH, HE WROTE HER A LETTER SIGNED, "FROM YOUR VALENTINE", THUS STARTING THE TRADITION OF VALENTINE'S DAY.
TO CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY, IT HAS BECOME CUSTOMARY TO GIVE YOUR LOVED ONE ROMANTIC GIFTS SUCH AS CHOCOLATES, FLOWERS, JEWELRY, LINGERIE, PERFUME, ETC.
GET A JUMP-START ON VALENTINE'S DAY BY SAVING UP TO 50% ON NATURAL GIFTS FOR MEN & WOMEN, NATURAL GIFTS FOR A ROMANTIC NIGHT-IN, CANDLES AND CHOCOLATES. HURRY....SALE ENDS 02/05/13.
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