Today is the day many people celebrate by giving cards, flowers, candy or gifts to the ones they love.
Have you wondered why? The story goes back to the ancient Romans where two versions exist.
The Romans celebrated the god Lupercalia on February 15 to ask for protection in warding off the danger of wolves. The second is a myth of St. Valentine, a priest who lived in the 3rd century in Rome during the rule of Claudius II. 
The emperor decide he needed more soldiers and that single men were his preference because they would not be missing their wives when off on a campaign. Being the emperor, he had no restraints and outlawed marriage for all young men of soldiering age. The priest Valentine thought it was unfair and chose to marry loving young couples in secret. Claudius learned of this disobedience and had him thrown into prison and later put to death. Not sure if he was eaten by the lions! Tradition is that young couples whom he married left him cards, notes, and flowers when they visited him in prison. Another slightly different version is that Valentine, the priest, while in prison, fell in love with the jailer’s daughter.Before his death, he sent the first ‘Valentine” to his love and wrote her a letter which he signed as ‘Your Valentine.’ These words are still used on valentines today!
This holiday has been a favorite and celebrated since the Middle Ages. In my class each year the celebration was a joyful time. Students would bring in valentines. . . .usually generic ones, but sometime in higher grades special cards and even gifts, deliver them into white bakery bags decorated with hearts that perched on each one’s desk. No party is complete without a game or two. 
For the party, moms would come with four favorite ice cream flavors voted on by the students, with cone bowls, and every imaginable topping for the students to load onto their ice cream! 
Red roses say “I love you !” I am sure your love would be most happy to receive some from you ! There is still time . . . . . . . 
Before I end this, just a note. . . . .I saw on another blog, this morning that Iran has outlawed Valentine’s Day because of its origin in ancient Christianity. That is sad as I think we can all agree that what the world needs is love. . . . . (Thanks Dianne Warwick, and Hal David and Burt Bacharach)
Images from Wikeopedia and Google images. . . public domain text from http://www.primarygames.com
TalesAlongTheWay 
love is something that should be celebrated 365 days every year and 366 every leap year 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right! Too bad we have to have a reminder! Many people think it is just a capitalist ploy to sell cards and such! I guess I enjoy the excuse to celebrate love! 8-). Thanks for the reminder. . . . .
LikeLike
So Very Lovely! Happy Valentines Day 🙂
LikeLike
T Y and back at you!
LikeLike
The deserts look good! Happy Valentine’s Day.
LikeLike
They sure do. Husband and I are trying to get our weight under control so there will be no candy or sweets today for me. He says that we are the only two people since the beginning of tourism in India who return home weighing more than we did when we left! 😎
LikeLike
So interesting…great post! 🙂
LikeLike
T Y! Visit again soon!
LikeLike
Happy valentine’s Day. So nice of you to make me a present of following my blog. Hope you enjoy. I am following you as well.
LikeLike
Good for you following your dream and writing. Much of my blog is about 4 wonderful months in India. I have met many Indian men who are engineers by training and poets in their hears! Happy Valentine’s to you , too. I look forward to reading more of your work.
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Lovely! Now, I am off to get some ice cream with everything on it. Yum.
LikeLike
What fun. So glad I inspired you ! 😎 Let me know how it goes!
LikeLike
All is nice and thanks… 😉
LikeLike
Great !
LikeLike
Thanks and welcome… 😉
LikeLike
Thank you for all of the background and history, always so interesting ☺️ happy valentines day xx
LikeLike
You know the old teacher…..never misses an opportunity to share some knowledge! Thanks for your faithfulness! Have a lovely weekend!
LikeLike
And you x
LikeLike
Are you having the horrible rain and flooding where you live?
LikeLike
Yes, like you wouldn’t believe, but luckily we live towards the top of a hill so we haven’t been affected by the water. Below us though, the fields continue to be flooded and it’s literally like living by the sea, all we can see around us is water! We are lucky though compared to some of the poor people in other parts of the UK 😕
LikeLike