presented by
KIDSWORK

"Cassidy in Nude" by Caity, 6 years old

Happy Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day History

In the 4th Century B.C., Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercaia. The Roman God Lupercus kept dangerous wolves from attacking. During Lupercaia, young men would draw a young woman's name from a box. This couple would then be assigned to each other for Lupercaia for what we call 'dating' today - sometimes they would be sweethearts for the whole year. Some of them fell in love and got married.

This big celebration was usually held on February 15. There was much dancing and banquets and contests. (They had naked races too!)

The church was very unhappy with this event. They thought it was pagan. They wanted to get rid of it, but didn't want people to get angry about it, so they gradually came up with a new plan. About 496 A.D., they let teenagers draw the names of saints from a box. Young men were supposed to spend the next year emulating that saint's life.

St. Valentine was chosen as the patron saint of this celebration. About this time, young Roman men started courting females by sending handwritten notes and poems. These were delivered on February 14.

Now, who was St. Valentine? During the reign of Claudius II, Roman soldiers were ordered not to marry or become engaged. This was during early Christianity. Valentine was a priest. He secretly married Christian couples. For this he was put to death.

He was beaten with clubs and beheaded on February 14, 269 A.D. during Lupercalia. After his death, in 469 A.D. he was made a saint by Pope Gelasius. Over a period of time Lupercalia was not celebrated anymore but assimilated, and St. Valentine's Day was an annual festival.

Many years later across Europe, people began to send each other secret valentines on February 14 - it was a way to say I love you. Sign your card: from your secret admirer. Knights were especially fond of this holiday.

One of the oldest valentines is in the British Museum from the 1400's - by then Europeans were giving valentine gifts. Paper valentines were handmade. A few were 'commercially' made also.

Many kinds of valentines were made - it became fashionable to spend a lot of time on these and to send them in secret...or with some fanfare.

By the 1800's valentines were printed in factories...by the 1900's valentines were big business each year, especially in the United States. Boxes of chocolate candy are also given to loved ones. Sometimes these boxes are decorated quite beautifully.

In the late 1900's valentine stuffed animals and dolls appeared in stores.

Traditional valentine colors are red and white and pink. Hot pink and purple and gold have become popular also. (the end - by mb)