HISTORY OF VALENTINE
Let me introduce myself. My name is Valentine. I lived in Rome during the third century. At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius.
Claudius wanted to have a big army, so he expected men to volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to fight in wars, and they did not want to leave their wives and families. That not many men signed up made Claudius furious. So what happened? He had a crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So, Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was cruel. Certainly, I wasn't going to support that law!
Did I mention that I was a priest? One of my favorite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, I kept on performing marriage ceremonies -- secretly, of course. It was really quite exciting. Can you imagine a small candlelit room with only the bride and groom and myself?. We would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers.
One night, we did hear footsteps. It was scary! Thank goodness the couple I was marrying escaped in time. I was caught, thrown in jail, and told that my punishment was death.
I tried to stay cheerful. And do you know what? Wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love.
One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit me in the cell. Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, "Love from your Valentine."
I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember it. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh -- because they know that love can't be beaten!
Claudius wanted to have a big army, so he expected men to volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to fight in wars, and they did not want to leave their wives and families. That not many men signed up made Claudius furious. So what happened? He had a crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So, Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was cruel. Certainly, I wasn't going to support that law!
Did I mention that I was a priest? One of my favorite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, I kept on performing marriage ceremonies -- secretly, of course. It was really quite exciting. Can you imagine a small candlelit room with only the bride and groom and myself?. We would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers.
One night, we did hear footsteps. It was scary! Thank goodness the couple I was marrying escaped in time. I was caught, thrown in jail, and told that my punishment was death.
I tried to stay cheerful. And do you know what? Wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love.
One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit me in the cell. Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, "Love from your Valentine."
I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember it. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh -- because they know that love can't be beaten!
5 comments:
Hom nay la ngay khai truong blog. Hihi.
what did you do for your beloved woman on the last Valentine's day, sir?
I am sorry not to answer this question. The woman who is my beloved one knows it. Hi.
hihi.
@Hello Valentine! I am very glad to see u every year with my beloved one. I wish I can get accquainted with u. Do u agree?
@Halu Sir(our teacher): Do u know I love ur blog very much? Because I know everything u do u ..."do it for u"("u"=his students).Hihi. Thanks for ur this lovely entry.
@Anonymous: Our teacher is a creative man... I think he always make beloved one happy&surprised. (Is it right, Sir?)
..."u too"
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