CosBeauty Magazine #103

FEATURE
of love, Valentinus believed that marriage was
a sacred bond essential to the wellbeing of
society. He continued to perform marriage
ceremonies for young couples in secret, going
against the emperor’s orders.
Valentinus was ultimately executed on
February 14, in the year 269 or 270, becoming
the first revered figure associated with
Valentine’s Day.
Another person named Valentine, a bishop
from Terni, Italy, was arrested for his Christian
beliefs under Claudius II’s reign. While awaiting
his execution, he is said to have performed
miracles and help heal the sick. Despite these
acts of compassion, Valentine was condemned
to death, and he met his fate on February 14th,
in the year 273.
In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius formally declared
the 14th February to be St Valentine’s Day, a
holiday to honour the martyred Valentine(s).
The remembrance of their sacrifice gradually
transformed into a celebration centered
around expressing affection, both romantic and
platonic, to loved ones.
As centuries passed, Valentine’s Day evolved
and absorbed various customs and traditions.
In the Middle Ages, written expressions of love
in the form of valentine letters became popular,
setting the stage for the exchange of “love
notes” that we recognise today.