History behind Valentine's Day – Not so sweet!

February 14th fills the air with love and romance, people often visualize it with a bouquet of roses, a box of chocolates and also someone they really love. But the history behind the Valentine's Day seems not too sweet.

Sources link it to a crazy tale from the 14th century, when Roman Emperor Claudius banned marriages, so more youngsters could go to war, as he believed that marriage would distract his soldiers and make them less efficient on battlefield. A Roman priest Saint Valentine defied him, by performing marital rituals for young couples in secret, for which he was initially thrown into jail.

His jailer, named “Asterius”, taunted Valentine about his powers as a Catholic priest, asking him to restore his daughter Julia’s eyesight, who was born blind. Saint Valentine made her see the world for the very first time.

Impressed by his superpowers, the jailer set Valentine free. The king’s rage was uncontrollable, later in sometime Valentine was brutally executed. It took a long for Valentine’s Day to be filled with romance, when in the 16th century, Shakespeare started mentioning about it in his writings. Though, the exact stories still sound superficial!

The day has changed a lot over the past few years, it’s not only a romantic holiday but even holds some rituals from ancient Rome.

So, just celebrate this day of love by buying chocolates, flowers, organizing Valentine Meals or just appreciate the ones you have in your lives.