The St Valentine’s Day of Romans was Lubercus, holidays of the fertility of the shepherds and the herds. Billy goats and goats (tackles) were sacrificed.The half bare young men, coated with some blood of animals, ran (roamed) then in the city, drinking and laughing, while whipping without violence the young ladies whom they crossed with fragments of skin of the sacrificed animals. This ritual aimed that they are fertile and give childbirth without any pain. Romans liked the games (sets) of fate. Thus, before the banquet of Lupercales, the young men drew lots in an urn(ballot box) the name of the girl which would hold them company during the banquet. They were supposed to see itself all year long sometimes the couples fell in love and got married, but how do we become a patron saint of the lovers? The points of view of the historians diverge. According to certain sources Valentin was a Christian priest living in Rome in the third century AD.

Imprisoned,.He refuses to deny his faith and finishes beheaded on February 14th 268, on order of the emperor Claude II, having had the boldness to restore the sight to the blind girl of his gaoler… Other versions assert that Valentin was condemned to death by the emperor (always the same!) to have preached the marriage. The married people were, indeed little inclined to leave to the army.Others else assert finally that Valentin was a bishop of Terfni, or another monk who offered flowers to his visitors… Then, whom to believe? One thing is sure: whether he is a priest, a bishop or a monk, Valentin creates the apportunity to union men and women.

As for the very holiday, we owe to the Kabyle pope Gelasius I. Two centuries after the death of Valentin, Gélase indeed decides to sanctify Valentin and to celebrate with great pomp, every February 14th, the anniversary of the death of the holy man. This approach was political and pope will hide the heather ceremony previously Lubercus, whom was godess of fertility. Each year 15 feb celebrates heathers ceremony. Joyeux Saint Valentin

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