the night before the Roman festival of Lupercalia which was celebrated on the 15th of February    Roman youths would draw from an Urn the name of the virgin they would court during the festival.

Marriages were banned by Claudius II the Roman Emperor in the 3rd century, due to his belief that his male population would be fiercer warriors if deprived of female company. 

Saint Valentine is believed to be an Italian bishop who ignored Claudius II royal decree and performed clandestine marriage ceremonies.  He was clubbed to death on February 14th 270 AD.

The Christian authorities tried to persuade the population to abandon the "immoral" tradition of the Roman festival of Lupercalia.....but failed.  so they incorporated the date into the Christian calendar.

The first recorded Valentine was sent by a French knight held captive in London, after the Battle of Agin court in 1415, to his wife.

©2000 by mary d
All rights reserved

these graphics are my own creations made from images purchased in the click art collection by Broderbund