The season of love is here

WHO WAS ST VALENTINE?
The St Valentine that inspired the holiday may have been more than one man.

The saint officially recognised by the Roman Catholic Church was a real person who died around AD 270.

An account from 1400s describes Valentine as a priest who was beheaded by Emperor Claudius II for helping Christian couples wed.

The emperor had banned marriage as he thought single men made better soldiers.

Valentine felt this was unfair so he celebrated marriages in secret.

When the emperor found out he was thrown in jail and sentenced to death.
St. Valentine the international man of mystery

WHAT DOES HE REALLY HAVE TO DO WITH LOVE?

Valentine did help marry couples in secret, which is arguably very romantic.

He is the patron saint of beekeepers and epilepsy among other things..like the plague, fainting and travelling.

That doesn't stop people calling on his help for those romantically involved. He's now also patron of engaged couples and happy marriages.

WHY IS HIS SKULL KEPT IN ROME?

Yes, that's right. St Valentine's skull is housed and adorned in flowers in Rome. It's actually on display in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.

It was found when people were excavating a catacomb near Rome in the early 1800s. The skeletal remains and other relics now associated with St Valentine were dug up. It's the norm for these to be split and distributed to reliquaries - places that keep relics - around the world. If you wanted to see other parts of the saint, he's on display in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Scotland, England and France.
Why do we give Valentine's cards?

Another idea is that when he was sent to prison, he sent a letter to a young girl he had fallen in love with and signed it "From your Valentine".

WHY IS ALWAYS CELEBRATED ON FEBRUARY 14?

Some believe that Valentine's Day's is celebrated mid-February to mark the anniversary of St Valentine's death.

It's thought to have happened in the middle of the month around 270 AD.

Others maintain that the Christian church decided to place St Valentine's feast day at this time of the year in an effort to 'Christianise' the pagan festival of Lupercalia.

Let's live to love , Happy valentine to all