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To: Barnabus who wrote (29883)	2/13/2000 8:55:00 AM
From: Alan Markoff	Respond to of 39621

Dearest Barney, I hope everything is well for you and your family. I found this because I became curious about Valentines Day. Do you know if this is accurate? Valentine's Day Traditions We owe our valentine traditions to Saint Valentine, a priest in Rome during the rein of Emperor Claudius II in the third century. Claudius was also known as Claudius the Cruel, for reasons you'll soon see. It seems that Claudius was frustrated in his efforts to expand the army of Rome because nobody wanted to volunteer. The men of the 60's, the 260's that is, had an philosophy of "make love, not war." Too few wanted to leave their wives and families to embark on military expeditions for Claudius, where they would be gone for months or years and may never come back. Finally, Claudius ran out of patience and used his powers as emperor to ban engagements and marriages in Rome. He fiendishly reasoned that if the men couldn't get married it would be easier to lure them into the service. Young people were outraged and continued to get married in secret, providing they could find a willing priest. Valentine was one of a few who supported them. He met with couples in private candlelit rooms where they would exchange vows in hushed tones, always fearful of discovery. Finally, it happened. Valentine was found out and hauled before the Prefect of Rome who condemned him to death. As he awaited execution, his admirers would come to the jail with flowers and notes of support. One of his most ardent supporters turned out to be the daughter of the prison guard, who would talk with Valentine for hours and try to keep his spirits up. The day he was to die, February 14, 269 AD, Valentine wrote her a note of thanks for her friendship and loyalty and signed it, "Love from your Valentine." Ironically, Claudius had executed Valentine on the holiday that honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage. The festival of Lupercalia followed, where boys drew the names of girls from a jar and paired up for the festivities. In the year 269, the name Valentine would be forever linked to this romantic time. In 496, Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor him as Saint Valentine and it has been St. Valentine's Day ever since. May the Lord richly bless you, Nancy