Melvin Chan: @MelvinCWH: Happy Valentine's Day

First of all, it's 14th February today and of course, as everybody knows, it's Valentine's Day.

All these while Valentine's Day was celebrated as special days when love is expressed extravagantly as compared to normal days. And this year, I made a special initiative to know about this day better (Although I thought I knew something about this day since I was younger...Hmm.)

So, how did a tale of a Saint being executed during the Roman Empire...

Became a special day for lovers?

(Pictures courtesy from Wikipedia)

Therefore, I googled for the history and below was what I've found:

"One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. (History.com)"

I see, but how does it relate to the romance of Valentine's Day? And I looked further.

"Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France. (History.com)"

Well, at least above excerption seem to make a point why Valentine was celebrated. There was more.

Excerpt above was picked from History.com.

Well, above seem more realistic. However, in the end, the idea of Valentine's Day for couples to be romantic towards each other has undoubtedly offers opportunities for problematic couples to make peace with each other, singles to grow more envy towards the attached (but only for the day la...), and provide the gift and floral business operators to make more income on this one day.

All in all, everybody's happy and glad that this day has happened when love and peace can really be felt in the whole world.