The
history of Valentine’s Day
The holiday is celebrated in Britain since the XVII century. The
origins of Valentine’s Day are rooted in the history of the
Roman Empire, when one of the rulers, Claudius II, forbade marriages,
because it was believed that the best soldiers are single men. It was
then that the Christian priest Valentine began to conduct the engagements
of people secretly.
Valentine was immediately arrested and sentenced to death,
as soon as the ruler learned about what he did. Before the
execution, on the night of February 14, his woman received the last
note from the priest with the signature «Your Valentine».
Also, the story tells that the pagans celebrated the onset of spring
already in mid-February. This time was considered the best for marriages.
«Parlement of Foules» («Bird Parliament»), the first poem about the
Valentine’s Day, was written in 1382 by English poet Geoffrey
Chaucer.
