From your Valentine

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FE Team | Published: January 28, 2010 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

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Every February 14, the Christian World around the globe exchange candies, cards, flowers and other gifts with loved ones in honour of Saint Valentine. The origins of Valentine’s Day are shrouded, and to the conservatives is “a cultural pollution from the West.”
Valentine’s Day began 1741 years (269-2010) ago. There are various legends about its origins. One of legends contends that Valentine was a kind-hearted priest in Rome during the reign of Roman emperor Claudius II (268-270).
Claudius had a difficult time recruiting soldiers for his army because Roman men did not want to leave their loved ones or families. He thought if men were not married, they would not hesitate to join the military. So, he concluded that single men are better soldiers and decided to cancel all engagements and marriages.
Valentine realized the injustice of it and defied Claudius. He began to get young people married in secret. But soon Claudius found out and put him in jail. His punishment would be death.
Many young people came to the jail to visit Valentine and told him they believe in love and threw flowers and notes at his window. One of these young people was the daughter of his jailor. Her father allowed her to visit Valentine. It is believed that Valentine fell in love with her. She woke his spirit up and Valentine was thankful to her. Before his death, he wrote a letter to her which was signed by him “From your Valentine.” This expression is still in use today.
It is said that Valentine was beaten to death and his head cut off on February 14, 269. Valentine proved to Claudius that love cannot be beaten.

Iftu Ahmed
(iftuahmed@sbcglobal.net)