St Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day - the popular festival of love and romances traces its origin to ancient Roman festivals and has not been created by card companies as some people believe it to be. It is said that in the Rome of ancient times people observed a holiday on February 14th to honor Juno - the Queen of Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also regarded Juno as the Goddess of Women and Marriage.
Popularity of the Valentine's Day festival stems from the combined effects of  legends, beliefs and of course the wish to glorify the unparalleled feeling of love!

One story goes that during the reign of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in several bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius found it tough to get soldiers and felt the reason was men did not join army because they did not wish to leave their wives and families. As a result Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. A romantic at heart priest of Rome Saint Valentine defied Claudius's unjustified order. Along with Saint Marius, St Valentine secretly married couples. When his defiance was discovered, Valentine was brutally beaten and put to death on February 14, about 270 AD. After his death Valentine was named a Saint.

According to another version of legend Valentine was killed because he attempted to help Christians escape from the Roman prison as they were being tortured and beaten there. Yet another popular version of the legend states that while in prison Valentine or Valentinus fell in love with the jailer's daughter who visited him during confinement. Before his death Valentine wrote a farewell letter to his sweetheart from the jail and signed it ‘From your Valentine'. The expression became quite popular amongst the love struck and is still in use today.

Valentine's Day Ideas

• Valentine day's chocolates.
• A romantic note asking him/her to be your valentine.
• Print off redeemable coupons, example 'one big hug' or 'breakfast in bed'
• Send sweet love quotes.
• Make your own Valentine's Day card which expresses your feelings.
• Create a scrapbook 'recollection - collection' and fill it with love letters, photographs, cherished mementos, etc.
• A CD of his/her favorite songs.
• A jewellery gift is awesome. A heart shaped locket for the lady love and a silver bracelet for him is just perfect.
• Plan a special dinner for him/her. A candle light dinner is just unforgettable.
• Pamper your sweetheart by gifting her a spa session.
• Pot a plant that will grow and bloom for her.
• Spend loads of quality time with him/her and clandestine visits to romantic gateways.
• Dance with your valentine to romantic music
• Include a chocolate dessert in your romantic dinner.
• Create a love song CD full of Valentine's Day songs.
• Send flowers at workplace or home to him/her.  
• Toast each other with champagne.
• Plan a short and sweet get away for a night/weekend.