Valentine’s Day: More Than Just An Occasion To Exchange Cards
Wed, 02/10/2016 - 16:37
News Staff
By Paula Carpenter
While many of us think of Valentine’s Day as a time set aside to recognize loved ones with cards, flowers or other gifts, this was not the original intent. In fact during the 5th century when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 to be St. Valentine’s Day, he had no idea that the date would come to symbolize love and romance. Instead, the day was in honor of Saint Valentine, a priest who was martyred in 269 AD. Valentine is credited with helping other Christians escape Roman prisons, where they were beaten and tortured.