Hello, in honor of Valentine's Day tomorrow, I thought I would do a bit a research and see where this holiday or tradition started.

I first Googled "orgins of Valentine's Day", and received numerous hits. I decided to go with the entry on the History Channel site. Here is what I found:

The History of Valentine's Day Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. 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. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

	According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

How does my family celebrate Valentine's Day? We spend it doing things for others. The children make Valentine cards for each other and for family members. We also try to do something for someone else. Tomorrow, we are going to visit my grandparents. I had thought we might go with our homeschool group to sing at the nursing home, since that is a yearly tradition with our group. But my aunt and uncle left yesterday to go back to their home in Maine, and that will leave my grandparents at home alone all day. And we want to bring some cheer to them.

We do not celebrate Valentine's Day as a "romantic holiday." My husband and I exchange cards or letters. Since we are of the courtship mindset, we do not want to establish this holiday as a day to have a "boyfriend" or "girlfiriend."

We have had small Valentine parties in the past with our homeschool group, but it has never been what I envisioned the day being, so we opted to do something for others to show our love.

How do you celebrate Valentine's Day?

Have a blessed day! Tami