14 historical facts about Valentine's Day that you're surprised

• 14 historical facts about Valentine's Day that you're surprised the

Once again, the time is. No, not the New Year and even 8 March. A chocolate heart floral Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day. And while we all love is hovering in the air, we decided to dig up the historical facts about this day, that have little to do with love and flowers.

Roman Emperor Claudius II did not allow his men to get married during the war, because he believed that love and marriage are not connected. According to the "Golden Legend", a collection of Christian legends and lives of the saints, it is under Claudius II was executed on Valentine's Day.

In fact, there are several legends about St. Valentine. One says that he is secretly in love crowned, was captured and executed by order of the emperor. According to another, Valentine tried to help Christians escape from prison, who were persecuted in those days, it was found and arrested. He fell in love with his jailer's daughter and wrote her first Valentine card, signed "Your Valentine". Be that as it may, Valentine was put to death, and Pope Julius II ranked him as a saint, presumably February 14.

Red roses were the favorite colors of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. In general, each flower has its own meaning, so try not to give his girlfriend a bouquet of yellow lilies hatred, for example.

It was King Henry VIII of England, a well-known fact that almost all of his wife tragically died in 1537 made February 14 an official holiday for lovers

City of Verona receives thousands of letters addressed to Juliet, Romeo's lover. In the photograph the statue of Juliet in Verona.

Only in the Middle Ages, Valentine's Day has become synonymous with love, and then only because, for example, in France and England in February, the birds began mating season.

Many historians believe that the day of February 14 was not selected because of Valentine's Day, and to replace the Roman pagan Lupercalia fertility festival in honor of the god Pan, as well as the founders of the city of Romulus and Remus. During the celebration of sacrificed goats and dogs, the men undressed, ran through the town and whipped all the skins of animals, especially women, as the shot is considered a blessing. Then leaflets with women's names were placed in a vessel, while men chose their way a couple for a year, after which the married.

Valentine appeared at the beginning of the XX century, when typographic case was not such a difficult process. At that time it was not customary to openly express their feelings, so valentiki were just what we needed.

In fact, in the III century lived several Christian martyrs named Valentine - Martyr Valentine, bishop of Interamna, and Valentin Roman presbyter and martyr Valentine Dorostolsky, soldier, to die for the open profession of Christianity.

In the Roman church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin can admire the skull of St. Valentine. Yes, this is one of the main attractions of the church. We hope that this is the skull of the "right" Valentine. In the near future are not going to Rome? Excellent for the rest of his skeleton, you can see in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Scotland, the UK and France.

In the days of Queen Victoria in England was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine. This is probably due to the fact that once again was not accepted openly about their feelings, so how could compromise the beloved.

Save oldest Valentine card with a poem that was sent in 1415 Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Unfortunately, his wife died, and not having to get a poem Duke.

In the beginning of the XIX century, doctors have actively encouraged people to eat chocolate to relieve a longing for the beloved. And at the end of the XIX century by Richard Cadbury produced the world's first box of chocolates.

In the Middle Ages, most people were illiterate, so when they had to sign a document, they simply put the letter X in front of witnesses, and then kissed her "signature" as a sign of sincerity of its decision. Among these documents were and marriage certificates.