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'Tis a day for lovers. Heart and candies, lace and frills, holding hands and soft kisses . . . all this, and more, is associated with the most romantic day of the year.

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Once a Pagan holiday, Valentine's Day was celebrated on February 15th. Early Romans called upon one of their Gods, Lupercus, to keep the fierce roaming packs of wolves at bay. The day was in honor of this God, and was called Lupercalia.

One of the activities practiced during the festive time of Lupercalia, is probably the closest connection to the contemporary act of young and old lovers today. The young people drew names from a jar. Actually, the young men would draw the name of a young woman from the jar, and she would be his "sweetheart" for the year.

Claudius the Cruel (Claudius II) was the Emperor of Rome. He believed married and engaged men would not make good soldiers, believing they would wish to remain with their families and love's, instead of fighting his wars. Claudius II canceled all marriages and engagements in Rome.

A Christian priest, Valentine, defended love in Rome, and defied the Emperor's decree. Valentine secretly married the young couples. Eventually, Claudius the Cruel found out Valentine was defying his decree and sentenced Valentine to prison. Valentine remained imprisoned until his death -- he was beheaded on the eve of the Roman holiday Lupercalia, February 14, 270B.C. After his death, Valentine was named a saint.

Hundred's of years later, as Christianity began to take control of Europe, the Church sought to do away with Pagan holidays. Valentine's Day soon replaced the Pagan festival of Lupercalia, in honor of his sacrifice for love. The tradition of honoring St. Valentine continues today . . . the themes of love and fertility originating from the Pagan festival Lupercalia have endured, evolving into today's contemporary theme.

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The United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France and Australia all celebrate Valentine's Day. Over 1 billion Valentine cards are sent in the U.S. (snail mail) each year, with parents receiving 1 out of every 5 Valentines. Worldwide, over 50 million roses are given for Valentine's Day each year . . . men buy most of the millions of boxes of candy and bouquets of flowers given on Valentine's Day.

pixie loverspixie cert

No matter who you are, love is in the air, on Valentine's Day. Please feel free to click on the above certificate, to adopt your own pixie.

 

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