Many years ago "Valentine" was a person whose name was drawn from a box; then in the 1500's it
became a piece of paper with the sweetheart's name on it.  In the 1600's it became the gift given to the
loved one; then in the 1800's it became a poem or verse given to one's sweetheart.

In the middle ages, the Europeans believed that February 14 was the date the birds mated,
so then that day became the official mating day for humans as well.

Valentine's for lovers and for friends.
All my love goes out to you this day!
Love is something different from desire:
Even, silent, peaceful as the sky.
Nor is love interested in means or ends.
There are no selfish needs that it must weigh.
Instead, love's plenitude itself inspires,
Needing neither cause nor reason why.
Each day my thoughts enchanted with you lie.
Be my Valentine, for I
Each day have thought of you.
My whole life couldn't manage what
Your ready smile can do,
Vanquishing my loneliness
As though all light were new.
Let me be your Valentine
Even as you're mine,
Needing what I have to give
That each might each define
In friendship and in harmony,
Now you, now I the melody,
Each helping each to shine.
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How it Began

It is thought that the celebration originated as a pagan tradition in the
third century when packs of hungry wolves lurked outside of Rome
seeking to prey on the flocks of sheep.

The Romans believed the God Lupercus watched over the shepherds and
their flocks so every year in February they held a feast called Lupercalia
to honor this god in order to stay in his good favor.

During feast of Lupercalia, the Romans also honored the goddess Juno
Februata  by drawing the names of young women and pairing them with
young men.  These "couples" were then partners for the rest of the year.

As Christianity became prevalent, priests attempted to replace old
heathen practices. To Christianize the ancient pagan celebration of
the Feast of Lubercus, the church officials changed the name to
St. Valentine's Day, after a Catholic bishop.

In an attempt to eliminate these pagan traditions, on St. Valentine's Day the
priests placed saints' names into an urn or box. The young people then drew
a name from the container. In the following year, the youth was supposed to
imitate the life of the saint whose name he had drawn.

By the fourteenth century they reverted back to the use of girl's names.
In the sixteenth century they once again tried to have saintly valentines
but it was as unsuccessful as the first attempt.

There were seven men named Valentine who were honored with feasts
on February 14th. Of these men, two stories link incidents that could
have given our present day meaning to St. Valentine's Day.

One of these men named Valentine was a priest during the reign of
Emperor Claudius. Valentine was revered by the young and old,
rich and poor, with people of all walks of life attending his services.

At this time Emperor Claudius was heavily recruiting men to serve as
soldiers for his wars without much success. The men preferred not to
leave their wives, families and sweethearts to fight in foreign lands.
Claudius became angry and declared that no more marriages
could be performed and all engagements were cancelled.

Valentine thought this to be unfair and secretly married several couples.
When Claudius found out, he threw Valentine in prison where he died.
Friends of the priest retrieved his body and buried it in a churchyard in Rome.

Another version had St. Valentine jailed for helping Christians.
While Valentine was in prison he cured a jailer's daughter of blindness.
Claudius became enraged and had Valentine clubbed and beheaded on
February 14, 269 A.D.

Yet another story claims that Valentine fell in love with the jailer's daughter
and wrote her letters that were signed "From your Valentine."

All of the seven Valentines eventually evolved into one.
In 496 Pope Gelasius declared the day in honor of St. Valentine.
Through the centuries the Christian holiday became a time to exchange
love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers.
Lovers' quarrels come under his jurisdiction and, naturally,
he is the patron saint of engaged couples and of anyone wishing to marry.