Reason Behind VALENTINE'S DAY ???

Hi friends,

My name is VALENTINE.  I was from Rome and lived my life on earth in third century, its too long back and right now enjoying heaven. I feel so nice when I see couple getting married or loving each other truly. Anyways lemme continue with my intro, It was the time when Rome was ruled by Emperor named Claudius. I never liked Emperor Claudius, in fact many of them had same feelings.

Claudius always wanted to have huge armed force. He expected Rome citizen (men) to join his army. Many men were just against fighting in the war. They were afraid to go away from their wives and families. Now you must have got an idea that not many men came up to join army. This made Claudius furious. So what next? Did he give up? Nooo ways, instead he had an crazy idea. He thought that if men remains single and don’t marry anyone then they wouldn’t have any issues with joining army. So Claudius banned all the new marriages. Youth where of the view that this law was cruel and ridiculous. Even I thought it was foolish law which aimed at opposing the nature! I certainly wasn't going to support that law!

Sorry I forgot to mention that I was a priest!! Being a priest my favorite activity was to marry people. I did not stop performing marriage ceremony even after Claudius passed his law, I kept performing my activity -- secretly, of course. It was an exciting moment to marry people secretly. The ceremony went on something like this way; A small candlelit room with bride, groom and myself whispering the words of ceremony and listening to the steps of soldiers all the while and keeping mum if a soldiers stood nearby room.

One night, we did hear footsteps. It was too scary, but thank lord the couple I was marrying left the place in time and escaped. But unfortunately I was caught and was under arrest. I was thrown behind the bars and told that ‘Death’ was my punishment.

I tried to stay happy. And guess what? Wonderful things happened with me in prison. Too many young people came to meet me over there. They threw notes and flowers on my window. They all just wanted me to know that they, too believed in love like I do.

The Daughter of the Jailor was also one these young couple. Her father did not oppose her to meet me in the cell and gave her the permission for the same (I guess even he believed in love, but because of fear of Claudius he kept silence). Sometimes we would sit and have chat for hours and hours. She always helped me keep my spirits up like a true friend. She agreed that I did right by not following emperors law and continuing with secret marriages.

Finally the day arrived when I was to die, on that day I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, "Love from your Valentine."

I believe that note started festival or the ritual of giving love messages to each other on Valentine's Day. Note was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember to pass love messages but still there are many who don’t remember me, I guess they don’t even know me properly and also the reason behind celebrating this day. But those who know me – most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to come in the way of love, and they laugh -- because they know that love can't be beaten!

Your Valentine ….