Little
fact's are known about how Valentines day was truly introduced and there are lot
of theories, having reviewed many of these we have chosen the one below as it
appears to be the most likely development.
Valentine's
Day started in the time of the
Roman Empire
. In ancient
Rome
, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman
Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and
marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.(Feast
of the Wolf) and it is believed that men would draw the name of a woman whom
they would protect during the feast, this often led to the couple remaining
together and eventually marrying.
The
pastors of the early Christian Church in
Rome
endeavoured to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting
the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the
middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine's Day for
the celebration of this new feast. So it seems that the custom of young men
choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose
in this way.
