How Valentine’s Day Began…

Why do millions of people all over the world show their love on 14th February by giving gifts to their loved ones on what we now call Valentine’s day? This special day is said to come from ancient Christian and Roman tradition. Apparently there were 3 Christian Saints with the name Valentine. One was a priest of Rome, the next was a bishop of Terni and not much was known about the third one other than he died in Africa. The strange thing is that it is said the three were all martyred on 14th February.

It is believed that the first Valentine, the one we are talking about, lived around 270AD in Rome. When Claudius became emperor of Rome he believed married men were too emotionally attached to their family to make good soldiers. With this in mind he decreed that soldiers could not marry. By doing this he believed he would be assured of having a better army.

This came as a terrible shock to the Romans but they feared the power of Emperor Claudius. However, the kindly Bishop Valentine also realised the unfairness of this decree. He saw the trauma of young lovers never to be united in marriage and planned to counter the emperor ’s orders in secret.

So, when soldiers wanted to be married they would go to Bishop Valentine and he would marry them. Unfortunately, it was not long before Claudius found out about this “Friend of Lovers” as he was known and had him arrested and subsequently executed on 14th February 270AD.

Roman Wedding

Young Romans observed this day annually, giving hand written greetings of love showing their affections. Valentine became the Patron Saint of lovers and was celebrated on the 14th February each year all over the world and still is today.

Attention Men!
Don’t suffer the WRATH of a disgruntled woman this Valentine’s Day!

Men, it is time to step it up, cancel that standing order at the florist, think outside the heart-shaped box and get that special woman in your life something she’ll really love.

She’ll be swept off her feet when you treat her with a Valentine’s Day gift voucher for luxurious treatments at Newcastle’s premier Day Spa, Serenity Lodge.

Let us help you show your love this Valentine’s Day with a Gift Voucher from Serentiy Lodge Day Spa – serving Newcaste, Hunter Valley, Central Coast and Sydney.

Happy Valentine’s Day!
Fay Rayner

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