Frozen Tears
05-02-2007, 12:09 AM
Happy Valentine'e Day!!! What are your plans? Did you get any flowers? Has your "loved one" got u anything special? What will you do?"
I'm pretty sure those were my words to some of my friends last year. Each year I got sucked into that "marketing trick" of Valentine's Day that made u feel so awful if u didn't have anyone special to share that WONDERFUL day with.
But what is the story behind this "truly amazing and lovely day"? For years I always thought it was some guy who decided that "love should conquer all" and just somehow that day was settled to spread that love.
Actually, the story behind that day is worth knowing. It turns out that there is a legend or a myth behind it.
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. ( Reference: http://www.historychan nel.com/exhibits/valentine/?page=histo ry (http://www.historychan nel.com/exhibits/valentine/?page=history))
Another story I heard but couldn't find anything to back it was that St. Valentine was in love with a girl and together they had a relationship that was similar to marriage and when he was discoevered he was hung by the Church.
I wonder what is the right thing to do? Should we celebrate that day? As Muslims, do we need that day in the first place? I'd love to hear from you about this!!!:aa_cool :
http://www.historychan nel.com/global/images/spacer.gif
I'm pretty sure those were my words to some of my friends last year. Each year I got sucked into that "marketing trick" of Valentine's Day that made u feel so awful if u didn't have anyone special to share that WONDERFUL day with.
But what is the story behind this "truly amazing and lovely day"? For years I always thought it was some guy who decided that "love should conquer all" and just somehow that day was settled to spread that love.
Actually, the story behind that day is worth knowing. It turns out that there is a legend or a myth behind it.
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. ( Reference: http://www.historychan nel.com/exhibits/valentine/?page=histo ry (http://www.historychan nel.com/exhibits/valentine/?page=history))
Another story I heard but couldn't find anything to back it was that St. Valentine was in love with a girl and together they had a relationship that was similar to marriage and when he was discoevered he was hung by the Church.
I wonder what is the right thing to do? Should we celebrate that day? As Muslims, do we need that day in the first place? I'd love to hear from you about this!!!:aa_cool :
http://www.historychan nel.com/global/images/spacer.gif