Valentine’s Day was celebrated even in pagan times when, according to the roman custom of Lupercalia, glorifying the god of fertility Taunus (Pan) during a lavish ceremony men out of the box the names of the girl, who grabs their heart. This custom is practiced almost all XX century. During the Lupercalia acted naked Cupid, famous more like Eros. This god did his joke with people shooting them with love darts. The person hit by this arrow, fall in love immediately. From here is coming the belief that the love is blind. There are a lot of legends about the St Valentine day. Here is one of them:
In ancient Rome lived a doctor named Valentine. He always took care drug prescribing to his patients to have a pleasant taste. He mixed the bitter syrups with wine, honey or milk, wash wounds with wine, herbs and grasses which used to relieve the pain. Valentine was also a preacher. Although in those days Rome persecuted Christians, he became a priest. Valentine lived during the reign of Claudius II, who fought many wars. When the number of the new soldiers in the army began to decline, Claudius decided that the reason is the devotion of soldiers to leave their home and family. He forbade all weddings and engagements, but Valentine continued to secretly wed couples.
Once a prison guard knocked on the door of Valentine, he led his blind daughter. The father had heard about the healing abilities of Valentine and asked him to cure his daughter blindness. Valentine knew that this disability is virtually incurable, but promised he would do everything possible to cure the girl. He gave to her an ointment and told them to come again. Past two weeks, but the vision of the girl did not return. The man and his daughter did not doubt in the doctor’s ability and they continued to visit him. One day, however, Roman soldiers raided at the home of Valentine, destroyed drugs and arrested Valentine, because he violates the order of Claudius for wedding. Blind girl’s father learned about the arrest, but nothing could be done. Valentine knew that he would soon meet his death sentence, but not stop thinking about the blind girl. Asked for a list of paper and ink and wrote a farewell love letter to this girl. The death sentence was completed on 14 February 270 year. When the father returned home, he welcomed his daughter. The girl opened the letter and found inside yellow saffron (crocus). The letter was signed: From your Valentine. The girl took on her hand the saffron and a miracle happened: the girl’s sight was restored. She saw the bright color of the saffron.
