The origins of Valentine’s Day go back to Lupercalia, an ancient Roman fertility festival honoring a long-forgotten deity who protected herds from wolves. Then in the third century, Emperor Claudius II Gothicus martyred two Roman priests. They were both named Valentine. Legend says one Valentine sent a letter to his jailer’s daughter and signed the letter “from your Valentine”.   Or perhaps Valentine performed weddings for soldiers, who were forbidden to marry. And this Valentine handed out paper hearts.

In medieval times, Chaucer helped popularize courtly love and the writing of love poems and songs. Later, even Shakespeare got into the act when Ophelia called herself “Hamlet’s Valentine”. February 14th became a great excuse to write verses filled with love and send them to your beloved.

Will you pen a poem to your Valentine today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer