The traditional heart and cupids of Valentine's Day.
Credit: unknown | ©unknown
Valentine's Day: Wholesome Christian Fun or a Pagan Tradition?
It's a big day for florists and candy makers, along with restaurants and nightclubs. It's Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is a festival that has been incorporated into many church activities without regard to its origin or validity for a follower of the God of the Bible.
Asking a professing Christian who participates in Valentine's Day, what it is all about will illicit various responses. For many, it's just a day that they can lavish gifts on their spouse or significant other and an excuse to get out on the town for an evening of fun. Others break out the party line answer that it is a celebration of the patron saint, Valentine. And still others have never even considered Valentine's Day; its origins and practices. Where did Valentine's Day come from? Is it a valid practice for those who profess faith in the Almighty God of the Bible? What does the church say? What does the Bible say?
What does the church say?
Well the story changes a little depending on who tells it, but it has some basic elements that carry over from one to the other. The reason for that is there are no valid historical facts to back up the traditional church understanding of Valentine's Day.
According the website American Catholic; to some Valentine was a priest in the Roman Empire who helped persecuted Christians during the reign of Claudius II. He was, as legend has it, thrown in jail and later beheaded on Feb. 14. In fact there is no historical supporting evidence of such a man. Others say Valentine was someone who secretly married couples when marriage was forbidden, or suffered in Africa, or wrote letters to his jailer's daughter, and was probably beheaded. Still others say Valentine was a Catholic bishop or Terni, during the reign of Claudius II who was beheaded. The historical evidence supports none of these legends that have been handed down for generations. So what is the truth of Valentine's Day?
The Pagan Origins of Valentine's Day
Asking a professing Christian who participates in Valentine's Day, what it is all about will illicit various responses. For many, it's just a day that they can lavish gifts on their spouse or significant other and an excuse to get out on the town for an evening of fun. Others break out the party line answer that it is a celebration of the patron saint, Valentine. And still others have never even considered Valentine's Day; its origins and practices. Where did Valentine's Day come from? Is it a valid practice for those who profess faith in the Almighty God of the Bible? What does the church say? What does the Bible say?
What does the church say?
Well the story changes a little depending on who tells it, but it has some basic elements that carry over from one to the other. The reason for that is there are no valid historical facts to back up the traditional church understanding of Valentine's Day.
According the website American Catholic; to some Valentine was a priest in the Roman Empire who helped persecuted Christians during the reign of Claudius II. He was, as legend has it, thrown in jail and later beheaded on Feb. 14. In fact there is no historical supporting evidence of such a man. Others say Valentine was someone who secretly married couples when marriage was forbidden, or suffered in Africa, or wrote letters to his jailer's daughter, and was probably beheaded. Still others say Valentine was a Catholic bishop or Terni, during the reign of Claudius II who was beheaded. The historical evidence supports none of these legends that have been handed down for generations. So what is the truth of Valentine's Day?
The Pagan Origins of Valentine's Day
Comments
Thanks for the comments, Steve. It is an eye opening experience when we begin to look at the things we have practiced for all of our lives, inherited from the previous generations and have always continued in without knowing its origins and ramifications. There is a reason we are told to "come out and be separate" by the Lord. May those who have ears to hear - hear.
Well-researched article Banner. I will be doing some more in-depth reading on the subject myself. On the surface, I feel more pain in celebrating Valentine's Day because I am compelled to by marketing rather than love for my spouse. However, is it possible that by co-opting a previously pagan celebration we are diminishing their hold on that date? Anyway, thanks for another good article. Keep em coming.
Hmmm...I always did like Valentine's day, and this ariticle makes me like it even more...Happy Valentines Day, Everyone!!!
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