Romance permeates the very fabric of the city of Rome. From the edges of the Circus Maximus …
… to graffiti on the Aventine …
… everywhere you look, love really is all around.
So it is perfectly fitting that the tradition known as Valentine’s Day should have its origins here in the Eternal City. While there have been about a dozen St. Valentines, and even a Pope Valentine, the chap we celebrate every February 14th is St. Valentine of Rome. The legend surrounding his martyrdom is as follows.
It was around 270 AD and Rome was under the rule of Claudius the Cruel – that doesn’t bode well, does it? Claudius was trying to build up his army but was having a hard time recruiting soldiers. He came to the conclusion that men were unwilling to enlist because of their attachment to their wives and families, so to solve the problem, he passed a decree banning all future marriages and engagements in Rome.
Valentine, a temple priest, found this decree dreadfully unfair and decided to defy Claudius, presiding over secret wedding ceremonies for young Roman lovers. Naturally enough, he was discovered and incarcerated. While he was in prison, legend tells that he fell for the gaoler’s daughter and when he was taken from his cell to be beheaded, on that fateful February 14th, he left a note for her, signed ‘from your Valentine’.
Wander down to the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin and after you have stuck your hand in the Bocca della Verita (if you dare!) take a look inside the beautiful little basilica.
There, in a tiny glass case, you will find the sad, flower-adorned skull of poor old Valentine.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
xxx Ailsa
Where's my backpack? 
Oh, I had no idea that this was the origin of Valentine’s Day. Really quite sad…but love still triumphed.
Viva l’amore. ❤
Kiss a mouth like that?? No thank you!! 😉
Haha AJ, I’m sure he was quite a looker in his time. 😉 Happy Valentine’s Day, my friend.
Hope the sun shone for you as well!! Those teeth… they still worry me, looker or not!! 😉
I’ve never heard that before and am very glad to know this is not just a Hallmark fabricated tradition.
Hallmark has certainly cornered the market though. 😉
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Thank you Happy Valentine for you Your site it beautiful
Thanks Donna! xxx
Fun holiday themed post. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed, wishing you a romance-filled day! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this story – though like AJ I wouldn’t fancy kissing that mouth either!
Aww, looks like poor old Valentine’s past his prime. 🙂
Best Valentine’s Day post I have read! And love your images too.
Hurrah, glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Thanking for telling us the story!!
Glad you liked it, hope you had a dash of romance this Valentine’s Day. 🙂
Somebody asked me the other day why we celebrate St Valentines Day. I didn’t know the answer, but now thanks to you I can tell them 🙂
Not just a Hallmark holiday, haha, although I think the card and chocolate makers have taken over from poor love lorn Valentine.
Nice post, I especially like the skull! In Mexico it’s called the “Day of Love and Friendship,” which includes much more than just romantic love.
Ooh, I think I prefer that, Marilyn, Love and Friendship is all-encompassing. xxx
So glad you shared this story. Very interesting!
Glad you enjoyed it, hope you had a happy Valentine’s Day. 🙂
I like everything except the photo of the skull but its only because i fear dead people… haha happy valentines! 🙂
It is a little spooky for a day of romance! 🙂
Nothing says romance like a skull. Loved it!
Haha that’s what I thought too. 🙂
The rose shot is wonderful (But the skull is a bit macabre with the flowers – gold case or not)
Haha, just keeping it real, phil, a nice spooky end to my Valentine’s Day post. 😉
Oh, shame!!! Not much a reward for being a nice guy 😦
I was at Carnaval in the Algarve on Valentine’s Day. A slightly surreal but very enjoyable setting 🙂
Thank you updating Word Press