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It
is celebrated on February, 14 by the custom of sending greeting
cards or gifts to express affection. The cards, known as
valentines, are often designed with hearts to symbolize love.No
one is quite sure exactly who Valentine was. There are at least
three and possible eight different Valentines claimed to be the
real romantic. The three most likely Valentines were all church
martyrs. here are several legends regarding Valentine. He
was said to have been imprisoned and while there, cured the
jailer's daughter from blindness.
Yet another story has
him falling in love with the jailer's daughter |
sending her a letter signed "from your Valentine".
However the most
likely origin of Valentine's day goes back to
the Roman Lupercalia,
a feast celebrating the God Lupercus.
During that feast, young women
would put their names into a box
from which young men would draw.
This matchmaking process would
then enamor the two youth until the
next year. Sending
love notes on Valentines Day occurred much later
and
since
1840, Valentines have become tremendously popular all
over the
world.
Information
obtained at Encarta,
Encyclopedia
and Web-holidays.
In
Brazil, Saint Valentine's day is know as "Dia dos Namorados"
(Sweethearts'
Day) and
it is celebrated on June, 12th.
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The
legend says St. Valentine
Was in a prison cell ...
Thinking of his little flock
He had always loved so well.
And wanting to assure them
Of his friendship and his love ...
He picked a bunch of violets
And sent them by a dove.
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And
on the violets' leaves
He pierced these lines divine ...
That simply said, "I Love You,"
And "I'm your Valentine!"
So through the years that followed
From that day unto this ...
Folks still send messages of love
And seal them with a kiss.
Because
a Saint in prison
Reached through prison bars one day,
And picked a bunch of violets
And sent them out to say ...
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That faith and love can triumph
No matter where you are
For faith and love are greater
Than the strongest prison bar.
Helen Steiner Rice
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Happy
Valentine's Days!
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Page created on January,
14, 2002