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 Aah! Valentine's Day is fast approaching. All the young ones are making big plans for the day. But how did this day originate? Who is Valentine? A great lover himself? A patron of young love? Let's try and unravel the mystery about the man and his day. A popular legend says.... - Valentine was a priest.
- During his time, Emperor Claudius of Rome forbade marriages temporarily.
- So, Valentine secretly married couples, thus defying the Law.
- He was caught and killed on 14th February.
Another legend goes.... - Valentine was a Roman priest.
- He helped save Christians during a time of persecution.
- He was caught by the Roman authorities and imprisoned.
- While in prison, he sent messages to his friends saying, "Remember your Valentine" and "I love you".
Yet another legend goes.... - Valentine was a Roman priest who converted to Christianity.
- He was imprisoned for refusing to worship the Roman Gods.
- In prison, he fell in love with the jailer's daughter.
- Just before he was executed on February 14th, he sent her a letter that was signed "Your Valentine".
The legends are many and varied. But we are sure that there was a man called Valentine. And he was put to death on the 14th of February. - Valentine cards have been around since the 18th century.
- Though Valentine's Day originated for romantic love only, it now has expanded to include familial love as well.
- Saint Valentine is now generally considered to be the patron of lovers.
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