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The first Valentine's Day
costume party-Origins of the Day of Love
The origins of Valentine's Day are shrouded in
mystery. According to University of Notre Dame
Professor Lawrence Cunningham, scholars have two
main theories to explain how February 14 became
synonymous with romance:
How to Plan the perfect
Valentine's Day Party
 Roman Feast of Lupercalia - This ancient pagan
fertility celebration, which honored Juno, queen of
the Roman gods and goddesses and goddess of women
and marriage, was held on February 14, the day
before the feast began. During festival time, women
would write love letters, also known as billets, and
leave them in a large urn. The men of Rome would
then draw a note from the urn and ardently pursue
the woman who wrote the message they had chosen.
(Apparently, the custom of lottery drawings to
select valentines continued into the 18th century,
coming to an end when people decided they'd rather
choose -- sight seen! -- their valentines.)
The Birds and the Bees? - In the Middle Ages, people
began to se nd love letters on Valentine's Day.
Medieval Europeans believed that birds began to mate
on February 14.
There's also some controversy regarding Saint
Valentine, for whom the famous day is named.
Archaeologists, who unearthed a Roman catacomb and
an ancient church dedicated to St. Valentine, are
not sure if there was one Valentine or more. Today,
the Catholic Church recognizes at least three
different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all
of whom were martyred on February 14 -- at least two
of those in Italy during the 3rd century. The most
popular candidate for St. Valentine was a 3rd
century Roman priest who practiced Christianity and
performed secret marriages against direct orders
from Emperor Claudius II, who believed single
soldiers were more likely to join his army. Legend
has it that Valentine sent a friend (the jailer's
daughter) a note signed "From Your Valentine" before
he was executed on February 14 in 270 A.D. (That
phrase is still used prominently on today's cards!)
Valentine's Day Costumes
for your Valentine's Day Costume Party
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