LOVE LETTERS THROUGH TIME: EXPLORING THE ROMANTIC CORRESPONDENCE OF VALENTINE'S DAY

Step into the romantic time machine, close your eyes and imagine yourself being transported back to the ancient streets of Rome, where love and legend intertwine. Get ready to explore the enchanting and captivating origins of Valentine's Day from the mysterious ritual and festivals of lupercalia to the enduring and heartfelt tales of Saint Valentine. Get your mind ready for some awwwn and oh no! feelings by this enchanting journey into the heart of history!.

While the origins of Valentine's Day can be traced back to ancient Roman festival, the festival of lupercalia celebrated on February 15 was a pagan fertility festival dedidcated to the Roman gods Lupercus also know as Faunus and the goddess Juno. Lupercus was associated with shepherds and fertility, while Juno was the goddess of marriage and childbirth. During this festival, young women from a box would be paired with the young men for the duration of the festivals, these pairing leads to marriage in most cases.

They would gather at the scared cave where according to legends Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome were nursed by a she- wolf. The festivals began with the Luperci, a group of priests, sacrificing goats and a dog, symbolizing purification and fertility. After that, the priests would cut the goat hides. This was believed to bring good luck, fertility and protect against evil spirits. It may sound a little strange to you now, but back then, it was a big deal Lupercalia was seen as a way to ensure the prosperity and well being of the city and it's people.

As the story unfolds buddy!, I encountered fascinating twists and turns including the one where emperor Claudius ll issued a decree banning young men from getting married as he believed that unmarried soldiers made better warriors.

Now buddy, here's where it's get really juicy!. 

There was this Christian priest named Saint Valentine who totally defied that order. He didn't let anything stop him from spreading the love and bond, he continued to perform marriages for couples in secret! Quite the rebel right?

But unfortunately for Valentine his actions was discovered and he was imprisoned and sentence to death.

While in prison, Valentine fell in love with the jailer's daughter and wrote her a farewell letter signed "from your valentine". This expression of love and sacrifice is believed to have inspired the tradition of sending Valentine's Day cards. Isn't that insane, buddy!

After the execution of Saint Valentine, Pope Gelasius a Pope of a Catholic Church during that time decided to replace Lupercalia with a Christian feast day to honour Saint Valentine and Viola! Valentine's Day was born.

The tradition of sending Valentine's Day cards known as Valentine, became widespread in the 18th century. Today, Valentine's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world as a day to express love and affection to romantic partners, friends, family and oneself.

It became a day people exchange heartfelt messages, gifts like flowers, chocolate and go on special dates or outing with loved ones.

      Though this may create the God abeg feelings  and as well be a sad day for some people maybe due to heartbreak, but, I want you to know that Valentine died on the 14th of February and because of that we have what we can celebrate today called Valentine's Day so it's was a bittersweet experience from the very beginning and yes do not feel oppressed by other people or sit and press your phone all through because it's not a day to feel oppressed or lonely but to feel loved if you don't have anyone to show love to or receive love from, show it to yourself love yourself and celebrate yourself buddy! Go out there and treat yourself to a nice meal who knows you may find your valentine where you go.