Have you ever read about the history of Valentine's Day? Who is Saint Valentine?
Saint Valentine was a priest during the third century in Rome. Rome's ruler, Emperor Claudius II, decided that single men made better soldiers than married men (so the men didn't have anyone to worry about back at home and could instead devote all of their energies to "the cause"). Therefore, Claudius outlawed all marriages. Saint Valentine felt this was unjust and chose to continue to marry couples that loved each other...in secret. When Saint Valentine's actions were discovered, he was sentenced to death for defying the law of the land.
Some tales go further, and they state that Saint Valentine sent the first Valentine himself. While he was imprisoned for disobeying the Emperor, he fell in love with the jailor's daughter. Before his death, he sent her a letter professing his undying love, and he signed it "Your Valentine." He was a martyr...a martyr in love...
St. Valentine's Day began over the fight for the right to marry. A fight we're still fighting today.
Happy Valentine's Day y'all. Tomorrow, I'll celebrate with my future wife...as we're in the middle of our own journey and the fight for our right to marry...
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