Valentine’s Day Not a Hallmark Holiday After All

After years of hearing people downplay Valentine's Day as nothing but a ploy designed by Hallmark to sell cards, I decided to look into the validity of this healthy skepticism, and see if the February holiday has any real history.

Turns out, it does. There were numerous Christian Valentines over the years, and a few were martyred and celebrated as saints, even with their own holidays, for a while. Over the years. some churches have kept it on their calendars, and others have removed it.

There was more than one Valentine and there is more than one theory as to why his name become synonymous with romantic love.

My favorite legend is the one where Valentine performed secret marriages for soldiers under a Roman emperor who forbade them to marry because he wanted to grow his army and thought single men made better soldiers.

I love that! A priest who conducted secret wedding ceremonies so that soldiers could marry. I can see how a romantic legend would follow that.

The ceremonies often took place in what is in my humble opinion the best place for a wedding—nature.

They'd have to sneak away somewhere, well off the trail, to a place that can't be seen from any trails or roads. The men would bring the groom over hill and dale, and the bridesmaids would help the bride with her dress, in the trees, just away from the special, secret spot.

And St. Valentine would be there, ready to bring the two together, against the will of the imposing emperor. Love would prevail.

Yes, card, engagement ring, restaurant and gift companies drive the pink and red Valentine's Day advertising machine that really makes it a thing. But there was a man, a legend and a saint for which we celebrate this day of love every year.