On February 14 in many countries of the world celebrate St. Valentine's Day. This light holiday has and other name has St. Valentine's Day. To note it became in Europe since the 13th century, in the USA – with XVIII, and in the CIS countries only since the end of the last century, roots of this holiday go to ancient Roman mysteries in honor of the goddess Juno.
Instruction
1. Annually in the middle of February in Ancient Rome celebrated women'sthe holiday fertility Luperkaly. It was devoted to the goddess Juno and god Favn. This day on the place, sacred for ancient Romans, organized a sacrifice. Then removed a skin of which made ritual scourges from the killed of an animal. After a festive meal in which some men participated they were bared and began to run on the city, whipping ritual switches of the met women of childbearing age. Was considered that the blow of a scourge received this day will bring fast happiness of motherhood. Historians assume that they at the end of Luperkaly of the woman undressed too, and, quite possibly, the holiday came to an end with an orgy. History of this holiday contains more than 800 years. It was cancelled only with a total victory of Christianity in the Roman Empire. But as Luperkaly was incredibly popular, its cancellation could cause a revolt in the population. Therefore priests decided to replace a pagan holiday with another, with pronounced Christian morals. The Saint Valentin who was injured for the aspiration to make happy lovers became its symbol.
2. St. Valentine – an image ambiguous, almost mystical. Its existence is not documented. Two early Christian martyrs – Valentine of Interamna and Valentin Rimsky apply for this role at once. Both of them were executed after tortures and tortures. On the reached legend, Saint Valentine lived in the 3rd century AD. He was Rod from the city of Terni. Valentine, being a priest, patronized lovers, reconciled them, helped to compose letters and secretly crowned. At that time soldiers of imperial legions were strictly forbidden to marry therefore by order of the emperor of the priest arrested and put in prison. There he fell in love with the blind daughter of the supervisor and cured her. According to other version, the supervisor himself asked Saint Valentine to cure the daughter when that began to see clearly, fell in love with the disgraced priest. Knowing about the near death Valentine wrote to the girl the message with declaration of love which was called a Valentine's Day card subsequently. The execution of the priest took place on February 14. This day coincided in Rome with the beginning of spring. Later Valentine was canonized. But in 1969 cancelled the general church celebration of Catholic St. Valentine's Day. Now it is rather secular holiday which is celebrated with the great pleasure by people in different corners of the world. This day it is accepted to make a declaration of love, give each other valentik in the form of hearts, flowers, chocolate and soft toys.