I believe that the month of February is considered the month of love. In the United States we celebrate “love” on the 14th; it’s known as St. Valentines Day. But, do you know the history of St. Valentine? It is worth a few moments of your time to research the history of any given event or celebration. If we don’t know what we are celebrating, then it’s not worth celebrating for…
The first event that preceded the establishment of Valentines Day was the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. This festival was an honorary celebration of the goddess of women, Juno. The young men and women of Rome would choose their partners from drawing a name out of a box. Talk about blind love!
The second event began during the honoring of two martyred Christian saints, both of them named Valentine. Eventually this recognition of the two saints led to the celebration of Saint Valentine’s Day, an associated day that also cared for children.
The third event is the result of the natural process of springtime: new life/new love. In 1755 Samuel Johnson quoted, “Now all nature seemed in love, / And birds have drawn their valentines.” (Current, 1980).
The modern tradition of celebrating Valentine’s Day includes the exchange of cards, candy, heart-shaped jewelry, and flowers. It is the outward expression of showing love to one another. It is the essence that love happens…
One of the greatest passages in the Bible is 1st Corinthians 13… the chapter of love. The last verse sums it all up in this phrase, “So these things continue forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.” (ICB version)
Love happens… if it didn’t, you wouldn’t be here to read this. 🙂
Becoming Process Driven 