In England and North America, Valentine's Day has a long history and tradition. After the Second World War, the influence of this day to lovers expanded to Central Europe. The day of love is also a day of friendship, particularly in England and North America, where one prepares a surprise in the form of flowers and small gifts. Meanwhile, the gift industry recognized the potential of this event and promoted a commercial awareness.
According to the myth, this event goes back to the customs of Bishop Valentine who, in the 3rd Century, had his sphere of influence in the Italian city of Terni. Under Emperor Claudius II Gothicus, he allegedly suffered because of his Christian faith in 268 AD as a martyr.
However, the martyr legend mixed with that of the bishop living in Rhaetia Valentin in the 5th Century, whose relics from the Bavarian Duke Tassilo III have been transferred in around 764 AD to Passau.
Valentin is, among other things, the patron saint of travelers, the beekeeper, the youth and, most importantly, the guarantor of good marriage.
The Christian myth passed to generations is perhaps connected with the Roman pagan custom. The custom to give flowers on Valentine's Day points to the birth of the Roman goddess Juno (as equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera, mother of the gods). Thus, ancient myth was mixed with early medieval legend. The legend of the monk Valentin, who handed over the monastery wall of time passing flower to lovers, was inspired by the ideas of the myth.
So until today, Valentine's Day has remained a celebration of lovers and friendship. From history, the myth became a legend and the legend was transformed into a tradition.
Tradition
The tradition of Valentine's Day is now practiced based on the tradition of Bishop Valentine of Terni for the Christian martyrs who died. Several places in Germany have a relic of St. Valentin, such as the Bavarian town of Krumbach, district of Günzburg. Even the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin has relics of the saints.
Valentin was, in the third century AD, the bishop of the Italian city of Terni (then Interamna). According to tradition, he did not trust several couples, including soldiers, who had to remain unmarried after former imperial command. Thus he married couples and gave them flowers from his garden. The marriages he administered were, according to legends, bound to last. On the orders of Emperor Claudius II, he was beheaded on the 14th of February, 269 AD for his Christian faith.
According to the myth, this event goes back to the customs of Bishop Valentine who, in the 3rd Century, had his sphere of influence in the Italian city of Terni. Under Emperor Claudius II Gothicus, he allegedly suffered because of his Christian faith in 268 AD as a martyr.
However, the martyr legend mixed with that of the bishop living in Rhaetia Valentin in the 5th Century, whose relics from the Bavarian Duke Tassilo III have been transferred in around 764 AD to Passau.
Valentin is, among other things, the patron saint of travelers, the beekeeper, the youth and, most importantly, the guarantor of good marriage.
The Christian myth passed to generations is perhaps connected with the Roman pagan custom. The custom to give flowers on Valentine's Day points to the birth of the Roman goddess Juno (as equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera, mother of the gods). Thus, ancient myth was mixed with early medieval legend. The legend of the monk Valentin, who handed over the monastery wall of time passing flower to lovers, was inspired by the ideas of the myth.
So until today, Valentine's Day has remained a celebration of lovers and friendship. From history, the myth became a legend and the legend was transformed into a tradition.
Tradition
The tradition of Valentine's Day is now practiced based on the tradition of Bishop Valentine of Terni for the Christian martyrs who died. Several places in Germany have a relic of St. Valentin, such as the Bavarian town of Krumbach, district of Günzburg. Even the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin has relics of the saints.
Valentin was, in the third century AD, the bishop of the Italian city of Terni (then Interamna). According to tradition, he did not trust several couples, including soldiers, who had to remain unmarried after former imperial command. Thus he married couples and gave them flowers from his garden. The marriages he administered were, according to legends, bound to last. On the orders of Emperor Claudius II, he was beheaded on the 14th of February, 269 AD for his Christian faith.
