Valentines day

In Ad 197 and AD 269, respectively,

Valentine of Terni (bishop of Interamna) an evangelist and healer

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and Valentine of Rome (a priest) imprisoned for feeding the martyrs who were in prison .

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...were beaten and beheaded...martyrd. Which, to many people doesn't mean much, until.....

Merry Old Chaucer

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wrote, in 'Parlement of Foules' in 1382,

For this was on seynt Volantynys day

Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese [choose] his make [mate].

Spawning the popular 'courtly love' of the high middle ages

The earliest valentine card (surviving) is from Charles, duke of Orleans, to his dear wife while being help captive in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.



And so, many disputes and declarations later (catholic church heavily involved) we celebrate a highly processed, pink and red, love-heart strewn version of St Valentines day.....

And thats why we are going out to dinner tonight.



Happy Valentines day...