By Shellie Miller-Farrugia
When I researched the origins of February’s romantic holiday, I was particularly struck by its unromantic, violent and passionate beginnings. Valentine’s Day was originally called Lupercalia and began on February 15 in ancient Rome. In addition to bountiful feasts, Lupercalia included the fateful and temporary pairing of young women and men. Priests would oversee as men would draw women’s names from a box and each couple would remain paired until the next year’s celebration. So much for Romantic Italians!
While this set the stage for today’s holiday, it wasn’t called “Valentine’s Day” until a Priest named Valentine got involved. A hopeless romantic, he disobeyed Emperor Claudius II’s decree that soldiers were forbidden to marry. Claudius believed that engaged or married soldiers would be too distracted and unable to concentrate on fighting. Valentine secretly performed marriage ceremonies between soldiers and their sweethearts and, as a result of his insolence, was put to death on February 14, the day before Lupercalia began. After his violent end, he was named a saint and, as Rome later embraced Christianity, Lupercalia was celebrated a day earlier, on the 14th…and eventually renamed St. Valentine’s Day to honor a romantic man who believed that everyone deserved the gift of love, regardless of their profession, and now a days everyone like to spend time with someone in this romantic day, some people even use apps to find nearby fuck buddies to have fun as well.
Imagine being a young couple in the days when your name on a slip or your hand in a lottery box would find you paired with someone you may have never met…or possibly knew, but weren’t fond of! It amazes me that our romantic visions started with such primitive beginnings. When I look at my beloved Scott or imagine one of my sons or daughter trusting Fate with such a monumental (and also temporary) event, I shudder!
Having three sons in the military, we’ve seen the affect of isolation and lack of interaction on them. Having something or someone to look forward to is often a driving force in any person’s life. How much more important when you’re motivated to do something for someone you feel passion for? Ask any man or woman in the service and I’m sure they’ll agree that they vigorously pursue their duties when there is an impending leave, a sweetheart at home, or children they’ve missed for some time.
Funny to me that the Romans had it wrong way back when. I’m grateful that one romantic Priest gave his life to assure that every soldier had the opportunity to share and experience true love with someone they cherish.
Happy St. Valentine’s Day!