Despite wearing the extra layers of clothing and the dread of getting out of our cozy beds during the month of February there is a little light at the end of the tunnel. Not only do we get a chance to find out if Punxsutawney Phil ever sees his shadow in hopes of an early spring there is one highlighted day that many people worldwide look forward to celebrate and that day is Valentine’s Day.
There have been several legends told over centuries about how this special day was created. One legend brought about by the Catholic Church states that Valentine was a priest who was later put to death for performing marriages in secrecy defying the Emperor Claudius II who outlawed marriages for young men because he felt single men made better soldiers. Prior to being put to death Valentine was imprisoned, during his stay he met the jailor’s daughter and wrote his first love letter which was signed, “From your Valentine”. Another claim is that the Christian church decided to celebrate Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February in an effort to Christianize celebrations of the Pagan Lupercalia festival.
At any rate Valentine’s Day is the second most popular card-sending holiday next to Christmas. According to the greeting card association approximately one billion Valentine cards are sent each year. The first commercial Valentine’s Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840’s by Esther A. Howland who is known as the, “Mother of the Valentine”. Many associate this day with gifts, and giving but I say what is wrong with just a simple “Hello”. Take some time out for a someone who is in need. However this day was created the one emotion that everyone affiliates it with is love. You can love your mother, your best friend, your child, your neighbor, even a stranger. Let’s take this special day to express our love to one another you never know what type of day a person may have gone through.