Valentine

Valentine! Of course there must be hearts.
The day of lovers.

Historical background:
Valentine's Day coincides with the feast day of two Christian martyrs named Valentine. The habits of the day related to have nothing to do with the lives of these saints. There are several holy martyrs named Saint Valentine. Was a priest in Rome, another was a bishop of Terni. Both were in the 3rd century to death. Possibly, these are the same person.

In the eighteenth century it was suggested that the Valentine's Feast on 14 February is made ??to the ancient Lupercalia, a Roman (and perhaps even older) fertility festival to replace. Lupercalia was celebrated on 15 February in honor of Juno, the Roman patron goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, the god of nature.

To the Romans, this time a major party. According to the story, the names of unmarried young women in a large bowl thrown. Unmarried men could then take turns pulling a name. During the party, the two young people who were linked each partner. When Christianity arose in Europe, was this pagan festival by the Church prohibited. In 496 Pope Gelasius changed the Lupercalia festival of February 15 St. Valentine's Day on February 14.

Valentine legends are found in the Golden Legend, but Valentine Feast of romantic love, as it is celebrated today, owes its existence to Geoffrey Chaucer in his poem Parliament of Fowls (1380-1382) wrote these verses:

For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery Bryd comyth there to chese his make