Valentine's Day (Post 28)

If you want to start your own ten cent crazy book - read post 1-4 to find out how

OK, so maybe you want to impress someone with the facts you know about Valentine’s Day. Here’s a few for your ten cent crazy book.

The lovers' holiday, known as Valentine's Day, has its origins in the Pagan rite of Roman fertility, that dates back to the 4th century B.C. Young men drew from a box the names of young women, who became their companions.

Valentine was stoned, clubbed and beheaded because he began secretly marrying young lovers after Emperor Claudius II banned marriage in an attempt to attract more young men to the army.

The name Asterius is important to the Valentine's Day story because he was Valentine’s jailer, and legend has it that Asterious’ daughter's blindness was cured by Valentine. In a farewell note to her, Valentine wrote the message "From Your Valentine."

The Roman civilization introduced Valentine's Day cards. It was Roman men who first offered women written-wishes of affection.

The earliest surviving Valentine's Day card is by Charles, the Duke of Orleans who wrote a Valentine's Day card to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London.

There was a great increase in anonymous Valentine's Day cards -- particularly risqué ones -- in 18th-century England, when a reduction in postal rates made it affordable and fashionable.

Cupid, the cherub who totes love potion-dipped arrows, is son of Venus, goddess of love and beauty, and is always associated with Valentine's Day.

The letter X represents a kiss in Valentine's Day cards, but long ago, when many did not know how to write, an X or the sign of the cross was accepted as a sworn oath. Sincerity of the oath was often finalized with a kiss of the X

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