Is Valentine's Day Tradition Or is Marketing?

To clear this mystery we have compiled the history of St. Valentine. We invite you to read it and take out your own conclusions:

Lovers have a day on our calendar to demonstrate or reaffirm their love through gifts, dedications and poems but why on February 14? Want to know the legend of St. Valentine and source of this celebration?

There are several theories that give this date the origin of Valentine's Day. In the Nordic countries during this period when birds pair up and mate, which is why this period is seen as a symbol of love and creation.

Some believe it is a Christianized pagan festival, as in ancient Rome was made the worship of the god of love, whose Greek name was Eros, whom the Romans called Cupid. In this celebration called for the favors of God through gifts or offerings to achieve and find the ideal love.

Also, and for many centuries it was traditional in England the "party of Valentinus," where men and women elected to serve on a couple. Many of these couples became husband and wife and they got the happy couple might expect to find and consolidate Valentine's Day.

Other sources focus the origin of Valentine's Day in Rome in the third century, a time when Christianity was persecuted. In this period also forbade marriage between the soldiers and it was believed that single men performed better on the battlefield than married men because they were emotionally attached to their families.

It is in these circumstances when there is the figure of St. Valentine, a Christian priest at such injustice decides to marry couples under the Christian ritual of the Roman eyes hidden.

Valentin takes to protect marriage secret lovers and hosting great prestige throughout the city and is called by the Emperor Claudius II to meet him. The priest takes the visit for propaganda of the Christian religion and convince the emperor to follow the footsteps of Jesus. Although at first Claudio II was attracted to the religion that the Romans pursued the soldiers and the Governor of Rome was forced to give up and organized a campaign against Valentine. The Roman emperor changed his mind and ordered the governor of Rome to prosecute the priest.

The mission of condemning the priest had to carry out the lieutenant, Asterius. This, when it was before the priest, mocked Christianity and wanted to test Valentin. He asked if I could restore sight to one of his daughters who was blind from birth. The priest accepted and name of the Lord worked a miracle. The lieutenant and his entire family converted to Christianity but not delivered Valentine's martyrdom. St. Valentine was executed on February 14.

While locked, the jailer asked him to give lessons to his daughter Julia, based on lessons and hours together, Valentine fell in love with the girl. The night before his execution, sent a farewell note to the girl you signed with the words "from your Valentine", hence the origin of love letters and poems sent in love now and expression Farewell "From Your Valentine", known throughout the world thousands of postcards attached Valentine.

The history of Valentine would have ended there if not for two centuries later recovered the Catholic Church. By then it was a tradition among adolescents is a curious practice derived from the pagan festival rites in honor of the god Lupercus, god of fertility who is celebrated on February 15. It was a lottery in which each child chose the name of a young woman who became his companion for a fun year. The Holy See wanted to stop this pagan celebration and Valentine canonized as the patron of lovers.

Valentine's body is currently kept in the Basilica of the same name which is located in the Italian city of Terni. Every February 14 is celebrated in this temple an act of commitment by different couples who want to join in marriage the following year.

Be that as it may, Valentine became the patron of all lovers and all those who want a partner. Traders have echoed this holiday and have made it a perfect day to increase sales. Flowers, cards, love poems, dedications, chocolates and gifts of all kinds to make this day loved to show their love and friendship.