Valentine Trivia, Myths and Legends

Have you ever wondered about the strange and weird things that surround the Lovers Holiday Valentines Day? Well, I have and so the following research came from one of my late night (insomniac that I am) Google search adventures. Enjoy some of the weird and strange trivia that surrounds the International Sweethearts Day.

You might be surprised what you find amid all the Internet smirks and surfs that are full of half truths and strange twists of truth.

It is a Fact the date of Valentines Day never changes. Always you will find it celebrated on February 14^th.

Valentines Day is named after the Catholic Saint Valentine. Do you know why? Saint Valentine is said to have lived in Rome during the third century.

During the reign of the Emperor Claudius II marriage was forbidden, because men would not leave their wives and family to serve in the Roman army it is written. But a priest named Valentine (who did not believe in the man made law) conducted marriages contrary to the Emperor. He was arrested, taken to the prison and condemned to death. Legend holds that many people came to visit Valentine in prison. One special girl, who visited him daily, was the daughter of the prison guard. On the day of his death Valentine wrote a note to the young girl to hold on to her faith in Love and he signed the message, “Love from your Valentine”. This was on February 14, 269 A. D.

Do you know what the word meaning of Valentine is? Why it means sweetheart, of course.

Do you know what bird is the symbol of Valentine’s Day? The gentle lovely dove, which incidentally mates for life is the Valentine’s bird of love.

It is said that the first Valentine was sent to a sweetheart in 1415. The oldest known Valentine of the Western World was believed to have been sent in 1415 A.D. by the Duke of Orleans to his French wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. It is now on display in a museum in England.

An old English legend says the first man a single maiden lays encounters on February 14^th, she must marry. Watch out single girls!

Another legend says: “if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine’s Day, it meant she would marry a sailor, but if she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy.” Ultimately if a woman sees a goldfinch on Valentine’s Day, she will marry a millionaire.