February 14th, a day believed by all Americans as a day to give your loved ones roses, boxes of chocolate, or a fuzzy teddy bear holding a heart saying, “Will you be my Valentine?” When the season rolls around, stores are bursting with pink, red, and purple Valentine décor. There are heart pillows, heart candy, aisles of Valentine cards, and etc.
When I think of Valentine’s Day, I always recall celebrating it in Ms. Schierholt’s second- and third-grade class. Everyone had to make Valentine “mail-boxes” and make Valentine notes for all their classmates. When Valentine’s Day arrived, all the kids were excited about putting their Valentines in their classmates’ boxes. When the party started, eager children opened their Valentine boxes, read their notes and ate the candy delivered by their friends.
The first time I heard about the actual origins of the holiday occurred when the radio show, Adventures in Odyssey, broadcast a 20-minute show on the topic. That’s when I realized companies have altered Valentine’s Day into a commercial holiday.
I believe that teachers or parents should teach students the origin of the holding so they know why we’re celebrating it.
I think the real story as to why we celebrate this holiday is very intriguing. One legend states that St. 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. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, disobeyed Claudius and continued in secret to perform marriages for young lovers. When his actions were discovered, Claudius ordered him put to death. The imprisoned Valentine fell in love with the jailor’s daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression still used today.
This Valentine’s Day if you’re someone who buys or receives roses, boxes of chocolates, or a note that says, “From your Valentine” enjoy these gifts, but remember why you’re celebrating this holiday.
When I think of Valentine’s Day, I always recall celebrating it in Ms. Schierholt’s second- and third-grade class. Everyone had to make Valentine “mail-boxes” and make Valentine notes for all their classmates. When Valentine’s Day arrived, all the kids were excited about putting their Valentines in their classmates’ boxes. When the party started, eager children opened their Valentine boxes, read their notes and ate the candy delivered by their friends.
The first time I heard about the actual origins of the holiday occurred when the radio show, Adventures in Odyssey, broadcast a 20-minute show on the topic. That’s when I realized companies have altered Valentine’s Day into a commercial holiday.
I believe that teachers or parents should teach students the origin of the holding so they know why we’re celebrating it.
I think the real story as to why we celebrate this holiday is very intriguing. One legend states that St. 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. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, disobeyed Claudius and continued in secret to perform marriages for young lovers. When his actions were discovered, Claudius ordered him put to death. The imprisoned Valentine fell in love with the jailor’s daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression still used today.
This Valentine’s Day if you’re someone who buys or receives roses, boxes of chocolates, or a note that says, “From your Valentine” enjoy these gifts, but remember why you’re celebrating this holiday.
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