The history of St. Valentine's Day begins in ancient Rome, in the 3rd century. St. Valentine was a Christian priest in the city of Terni.
In those days, Emperor Claudius II forbade young soldiers to marry.
He believed that family warriors develop «weaknesses». Wife and children interfere with thinking only about service. But Valentin thought differently. He believed that love makes a man stronger. That's why he secretly married couples in love, giving them the right to family and happiness.
When the authorities found out about it, Valentin was arrested. In prison, he met the warden's daughter, a girl named Yulia, who was blind from birth.
According to legend, Valentine healed her. Before his execution, on February 14, he wrote Julia a farewell letter and signed it «Your Valentine». Since then, this signature has become a symbol of sincere feelings.
Valentine defended the right of people to love and be together. His act was an act of kindness and courage - he helped others, even at the risk of himself. And this is the most important message of this holiday, which is important to pass on to children.
Holiday traditions and symbols of Valentine's Day
A heart is the main sign of the holiday. You can give a heart not only to your loved one, but also to your mother, friend, grandmother.
Cupid comes from ancient Roman legends. His «arrows of love» are a beautiful metaphor for how suddenly one can fall in love.
The main traditions of the holiday are the exchange of valentines for children and attention to loved ones. A valentine is a small message with kind words. They used to be handmade from colored paper, decorated with lace and ribbons.
How to explain the meaning of the holiday to children
The great thing about this holiday is that it's another reason to remind loved ones that they are important and loved.
It doesn't matter who it is:
- A classmate that I really like
- Mom or Dad
- A grandmother or an aunt
- Teacher
The most important thing is attention.
And for young people, this day is a great occasion to declare their love for the first time. It is a day of romance, on which many teenagers are waiting for the most important confession.
Ideas for a children's celebration
Simple ways to make Valentine's Day special for kids:
- In the morning, put a note in your child's briefcase with a heart and nice wishes for the day
- Together, bake heart-shaped cookies.
- Create a «gratitude tree»: draw a tree on a piece of paper, and instead of leaves, glue hearts with kind words for each other.
- Write a valentine to your grandmother or a family friend.
This holiday teaches us to notice and appreciate loved ones. It has many interesting traditions all over the world. It also builds empathy and love for people. So don't ignore it, but also don't dwell only on the romantic part of this day.
