The Romantic Rituals of Valentine's Day

It's February, the month that people across the globe take time to celebrate that special person in their life. So how did this tradition begin? Pope Gelasius I established Valentine's Day in A.D. 496 to commemorate the life of a Christian martyr. 

It was not until the middle ages that Valentine's Day became associated with romance.  With time, February 14th became known as the date for celebrating St. Valentine, the patron saint of lovers.  There were at least three Christian saints named Valentine and no one seems to know for sure which one inspired Valentine's Day.  Perhaps it was the priest named Valentinus who was jailed for helping Christians.  While he was jailed he fell in love with the jailer's daughter and would send her notes signed, "from your Valentine".  Some stories report that he cured his love's eyesight which allowed her to read his notes.  The cure reportedly caused her father, the jailer, to convert to Christianity. Sadly, Valentinus was eventually executed, earning him his status as martyr.

As stories of Saint Valentine were passed down, the tradition of exchanging love messages and gifts slowly developed.  Thus, a ritual was born.  Rituals can be a powerful tool for bonding and keeping people together.  Whether it be a society, a culture, or a family, rituals give people a sense of community.

Marriage counselors and psychologists advocate that romanitic rituals are important in keeping your relationship alive.  Daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, "unique, shared rituals are an important part of the glue that holds couples together."  Carol J. Bruess.

Romantic getaways are one way you can begin your own rituals  and acknowledge that "Love is the immortal flow of energy that nourishes, extends and preserves..."  Smiley Blanton 

Preserve your life, preserve your love, develop your own rituals.