About the Author

Richard Cochrane is trained in chemistry and metallurgy but is far more interested and practiced as a political and fund raising consultant, writer and amateur historian. He grew up in a Navy family and with his two younger brothers carried on its 500+ year tradition of naval service to Great Britain and the USA then enjoyed a career with one of the largest advertising and public relations agencies working with numerous Fortune 500 companies and many of America's premier educational institutions. He maintains friendships and acquaintanceships around the world. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

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St. Valentine’s Day

February 13th, 2008 • Richard Cochrane

Soo good......Legend is Valentine’s Day evolved from St. Valentine, a Roman era Priest who was executed on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Saint Valentine, it is said, was a priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius ‘the Cruel’ and defied him by marrying Legionnaires against his edict — Claudius believed unmarried men fought harder because they had no worries of wife and family. Valentine was sentenced to and was beaten to death and then beheaded.

Legend is that the first Valentine was when St. Valentine left a farewell note for his jailer’s daughter who had become his friend, as he faced execution and signed it “From Your Valentine”. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.

The Roman festival of Lupercalia was February 14th the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl’s name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.

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