... who lived in Rome in the third century under the non-Christian emperor Claudius II. According to legend, he gave flowers from his garden to newly married couples. Moreover, the marriages which were made by him are said to have always been under a good star. According to the tradition he also healed a blind girl.
Valentin also married soldiers, who according to imperial orders had to remain unmarried, according to Christian ceremonial. Presumably this was the reason why Valentin was beheaded in Rome on February 14th of the year 269 by order of Emperor Claudius II and thus became a martyr. Saint Valentine is considered the patron saint of lovers, fiancées and beekeepers.
Other origins of Valentine's Day
But Valentine's Day as Lovers' Day probably has another origin in the approaching spring. For in mid-February the mating season of the birds begins. Moreover, in the Roman Empire, this day was originally dedicated to the goddess Juno (protector of marriage and family). On the one hand flowers were sacrificed to the goddess Juno on this day and on the other hand flowers were given to the women. The young girls also went to the Juno temple on this high feast day to get a love oracle for the right choice of partner. Also on February 14th and 15th the so-called Roman Luperkalia (feast of the she-wolf) took place before, where the sexual maturity rituals for the first menstruation of girls were held and marriages were made after attaining maturity.
Source: cms.vivat.de
