I had to do a lot of explaining about this at work today, so I decided to do a blog about it.

Saint Valentine's Day is one of those holidays that has been turned into something completely the opposite of what it is suppose to be.

So many people go out of their way to get massive gifts. Girlfriends expect things on Feb. 14, and often times will kill or ruin relationships because they feel that missing that day is no different than missing a birthday or an anniversary.

Saint Valentine's day is a day of remembering a very important message. Its not about gift giving. It is about the celebration of love, and all the joys that go with it, but it is not something to get upset over. It can be missed. It is not a day to show your love, but to celebrate it.

Now, before you get into the mindset of "but it's actually 'Single's Awareness Day'", let me explain the history of Saint Valentine's Day. This is not something we are taught, so I feel it needs explaining.

Valentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honor Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.

The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia 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.

Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II, Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that Roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius canceled all marriages and engagements in Rome.

Here is where Saint Valentine comes in.

The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples. He also felt that it was not proper to tax the men and women who were being married for the good of Rome," so he preformed these ceremonies for free. For this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270.

The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavored to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. The Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine's Day for the celebration of this new feast. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose in this way. Saint Valentine was chosen for his willingness to defy an emperor for his beliefs and honoring the true meaning of that love is.

That is the history of Saint Valentines Day.

So, when you sit there alone, or contemplate just what to get and give that special someone, remember that its not the gift. This is not a day to throw around money on big elaborate gifts. Its not a day to ride someone's bottom because they didn't do what you wanted or expected them to do.

Saint Valentine's Day is a day to remember that there is nothing that can stop love. There is no price tag, no boundaries, and certainly no greater human power that can deny what we humans feel.

So, find that person you love. Love as a lover, love as a friend, love as a brother, love as a child, and hug them. Tell them you love them as you do, and smile. That is the spirit of the holiday. Not the chocolate candies in the big red hearts. Not the expensive bouquets of flowers. Not even the confessions of love.

Saint Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate what we cherish.

Robert out.