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The Origins of Valentine's Day

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The Origins of Valentine's Day
Kathy
02/08/03 at 09:40:09
The Origins of Valentine's Day
                               
The Feast of Lubercus

    The first interpretation has this celebration originating as a pagan tradition in the third century.During this time hoards of hungry wolves roamed outside of Rome where shepherds kept their flocks.

   The God Lupercus, was said to watch over the shepherds and their flocks and keep them from the wolves. Every February the Romans celebrated a feast called Lupercalia to honor Lupercus so that no harm would come to the shepherds and their flocks.

    Every year the Romans celebrated a young man’s rite of passage to the god Lupercus by holding a lottery in mid-February. In honor of the goddess Juno Februata, the names of willing teenage girls were placed in a box and drawn at random by teenage men. By this lottery a young man was assigned a young woman companion for their mutual pleasure (often sexual) for the duration of a year. After the year was up another lottery was held.  This celebration continued long after wolves were a problem to Rome.

     As Christianity spread and the leaders of the Church resolved to do away with this practice by picking a “lover’s” saint to replace
the god Lupercus. They picked Valentine, a bishop who had beenmartyred in the third century A.D. for the cause of love.

St. Valentine's Day

         Valentine's Day was originally created as a substitute.  As Christianity became prevalent, priests attempted to replace old heathen practices. In the fifth century A.D., the Catholic Church attempted to be rid of a common pagan fertility rite that the Romans had been taking part in since the fourth century B.C.

         While it can't be proved historically, there were seven men named Valentine who were honored with feasts on February 14th. Of these men, two stories link incidents that could have given our present day meaning to St. Valentine's Day. One of these men named Valentine was a priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Valentine was revered by the young and old, rich and poor, with people of all walks of life attending his services

          Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II - Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular military campaigns. Claudius the Cruel, as he was known at the time, was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. The men preferred not to leave their wives, families and sweethearts to fight in foreign lands. Claudius became angry and declared that no more marriages couldbe performed and all engagements were canceled.

   Valentine, bishop of Interamna, disagreed with the emperor and invited young lovers to come to him in secret to be married. When Claudius found that he was performing secret marriage ceremonies, he was incensed. He had Valentine seized and brought before him.
When Valentine refused to change his views and renounce Christianity, he was put in prison to await execution. Tradition tells us thatwhile Valentine was in prison he corresponded with those under his care by sending little letters and love notes to those in his parish. It is also believed that while he was in prison the bishop fell in love with the blind daughter of the jailer, Asterius, and that God enabled him to miraculously restore her sight. Tradition tells us that his farewell message to her contained a closing  "From Your Valentine."  In February 14, of 270 AD, Valentine was clubbed, stoned, and then beheaded.  
   
   In A.D. 496, Pope Gelasius outlawed the Lupercian festival, but cleverly retained the lottery, because he was aware of the Roman’s love for games of chance. But now instead of names of women in the box, there were placed names of saints. Men and women both picked slips of paper and for the upcoming year they were expected to imitate the life of the saint whose name they had drawn.  

   Traditionally, mainly due to the Lupercian lottery, mid-February was a Roman time to meet and court prospective mates. While the Lupercian lottery was replaced, most Roman young men were not totally satisfied with the lottery of saints’ names and the new lottery did not last long. Instead the young men instituted a custom of offering women they admired and wished to court handwritten greetings of affection on February 14. The cards became known as Valentine’s Day Cards.

    To Christianize the ancient pagan celebration of the Feast of Lubercus, the church officials changed the name to St. Valentine's Day. To give the celebration further meaning and eliminate pagan traditions, priests substituted the drawing of saints names for the names of the girls. On St. Valentine's Day the priest placed saints' names into an urn or box. The young people then drew a name from the container. In the following year, the youth was supposed to emulate the life of the saint whose name he had drawn.

    By the fourteenth century they reverted back to the use of girls' names. In the sixteenth century they once again tried to have saintly valentines but it was as unsuccessful as the first attempt.



Re: The Origins of Valentine's Day
theOriginal
02/08/03 at 09:42:22
[slm]

And I had no idea.  Thanks for sharing.

Wasalaam.
Re: The Origins of Valentine's Day
eleanor
02/08/03 at 12:16:42
[slm]

..and this is why the werewolf is called "Lupin" in Harry Potter. (Lupercus).

Sorry for hijacking the thread Kathy, but for any H.P. fans, get the book "The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter". It's amazing how every single name/reference relates back to some legend or myth or even historical event.

And don't nobody go jumping on me for reading Harry Potter. Otherwise I'll get Barr to set her Power Puff thingies on you  >:(
Re: The Origins of Valentine's Day
Sabr
02/13/03 at 08:04:35
[slm]


Sorry for stealing ur thread Kathy but i thought this would be an appropriate place to share the following ruling regarding celebrating Valentine's Day.

Question:
Some people celebrate Yawm al-Hubb (Valentine's Day) on February 14 [the second month of the Christian Gregorian calendar] every year by
exchanging Red Roses as gifts. They also dress up in red clothing, and congratulate one another (on this occasion). Some sweet shops
produce special sweets - red in colour - and draw hearts upon them. Some shops advertise their goods which are specially related to this day.
What is the Islaamic view [concerning the following]:
1. Celebrating this day?
2. Buying from these shops on this day?
3. Selling - by shop-owners who are not celebrating - the things which are used as gifts, to those who are celebrating?

(And) may Allaah reward you with all good!


Response: The clear evidence from the Qur'aan and Sunnah - and this is agreed upon by consensus (Ijmaa') of the early generations of the
Muslim Ummah - indicates that there are only two 'Eeds in Islaam (days of celebration): 'Eed al-Fitr (after the fast of Ramadhaan) and 'Eed al-
Adhaa (after the standing at 'Arafah for pilgrimage).

Every other 'Eed - whether it is to a person, group, incident or any other occasion - is an innovated 'Eed. It is not permissible for the Muslim
people to participate in it, approve of it, make any show of happiness on its occasion, or assist in it in any way - since this will be transgressing
the bounds of Allaah:

{...and whoever transgresses the bounds of Allaah, he has wronged his own self}, [Soorah at-Talaaq, Aayah 1]

If we add to this fabricated 'Eed the fact that it is one of the 'Eeds of the disbelievers, it is sin upon sin. This is because it is Tashabbuh
(imitation) of the disbelievers, and a type of Muwaalaat (loyalty) to them. And Allaah has prohibited the believers from imitation of them and
having love or loyalty for them in His Mighty Book (Qur'aan). It is also confirmed from the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) that he said:
Whoever imitates a people is one of them.

'Eed al-Hubb (the celebration of Valentine's Day) comes under the category of what has been mentioned here, since it is one of the pagan
Christian holidays. Hence it is not permissible for any Muslim, who believes in Allaah and the Last Day, to participate in it, approve of it, or
congratulate (anyone on that occasion). On the contrary, it is obligatory to abandon it and stay far away from it - in response to Allaah and His
Messenger, and to distance oneself from the anger of Allaah and His punishment.

Additionally, it is forbidden for a Muslim to assist or help in this 'Eed, or any other of the forbidden/illegal celebrations in any way whatsoever -
whether by food or drink, selling or buying, production, gift-giving, correspondence, announcements, etc. All of these things are considered as
co-operating in sin and transgression and disobedience of Allaah and His Messenger. Allaah, the Glorious and Most High, says:

{... and co-operate with one another in righteousness and piety, and do not co-operate in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah! Verily Allaah is
severe in punishment}, [Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 2]

Likewise, it is obligatory for every Muslim to adhere strictly to the Qu'aan and Sunnah in every situation - especially in times of temptations and
corruption. It is incumbent that he/she understand, be aware and be cautioned from falling into the deviations of those whom Allaah is angry
with (Jews) and those who are astray (Christians) and the immoral people who have no fear of punishment - nor hope of reward - from Allaah,
and who give no attention at all to Islaam.

It is necessary for the Muslim to flee to Allaah, the Most High, seeking His Hidaayah (Guidance) and Thabaat (Firmness) upon the Path. Verily,
there is no Guide except Allaah, and no One Who can Grant Firmness except Him.

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family
and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh;
Deputy Head: Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh Bakar ibn 'Abdullaah Abu Zayd
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. - Fatwa No. 21203




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